EU Commission Presents European Agenda on Migration

(L-R) EU Commissioner of Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos, First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini hold a joi

The EU presented on Wednesday its European Agenda on Migration, which contains the concrete and immediate actions the Commission will take in order to deal with the influx of refugees.

The agenda is also aimed at preventing repetition of the recent incidents in the Mediterranean Sea, where thousands of people drowned after attempting dangerous sea crossings.

The Commission committed itself to tripling the capacity and assets of the Frontex joint operations Triton and Poseidon in 2015 and 2016.

It adopted an amending budget for 2015, which will secure a total of EUR 89 M, while the new Triton Operational Plan will be presented by the end of May.

By the same deadline, the Commission will also propose a temporary distribution mechanism for people in clear need of international protection within the EU, while a more permanent system for relocation in emergency cases of mass influxes will follow suit by the end of the year.

Also by the end of May, a EU-wide resettlement scheme to offer 20 000 places distributed in all member states to displaced persons in need of international protection, will be proposed, which will be allocated an extra funding of EUR 50 M for 2015 and 2016.

The Commission committed itself to working on a possible Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operation in the Mediterranean, which will counteract traffickers and human smuggling.

The European Agenda on Migration is based around four pillars – reducing the incentives for irregular migration, better border management aimed at saving lives and securing external borders, a strong common asylum policy and a new policy on legal migration.

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said that EUR 60 M will be granted in emergency aid.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini highlighted the need to tackle the root causes of migratory pressures, namely poverty, instability and conflicts in the countries of origin.

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