Managing the refugee crisis

The way forward

23 September 2015

The refugee crisis - a test for the European Union

European Agenda on Migration (May 2015) – a comprehensive approach to migration management

Its implementation has begun, e.g. tripled presence at sea, two emergency schemes adopted to relocate 160,000 people in need of international protection, etc.

But: the situation worsened and the crisis needs to be managed with solidarity and responsibility

Commission today proposed immediate operational, budgetary and legal measures for the way forward

Operational measures in support of Member States

Implement Council decisions to relocate 160,000 people (e.g. through Migration Management Support Teams working in "hotspots")

Frontex joint operations

EU Civil Protection Mechanism

Rapid border intervention teams (RABIT)

Lifting temporary internal border controls in Schengen area

Diplomatic offensive and intensify cooperation with third countries, e.g. Valletta Summit on Migration (November), High-level Conference on the Western Balkans (October)

Budget support [1/3]

Increasing funding for EU agencies to cover new staff for 2015.

+ €1.3 million for EU agencies

Frontex........... 60

EASO..............30

Europol...........30

*

*European Asylum Support Office

+ €100 million Increasing emergency funding for most affected Member States for 2015.

+ €600 million Increasing emergency funding and funding for EU agencies for 2016.

Budget support [2/3]

World Food Programme

Restoring Member States' funding for food aid via the WFP to 2014 levels.

EU humanitarian aid

Additional €200 million for organisations such as the WFP and UNHCR in 2015

EU humanitarian aid

Additional €300 million in EU humanitarian aid in 2016

Trust Fund for Syria

Budget support [3/3]

€500 million

EU

€500 million

MemberStates

€1.8 billion

EU

€1.8 billion

MemberStates

Emergency Trust Fund for Africa

Refugee-related actions in Turkey

Up to €1 billionIn 2015-16

Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Additional €17 million

Implementing existing EU law

Full and swift implementation by Member States of EU law in the area of asylum and migration.

40 infringement decisions have been adopted today against 19 Member States to ensure full compliance with the Common European Asylum System

Restore the normal situation and reinstate Dublin transfers to Greece within six months.

Legislative steps towards a robust Common European Asylum System

Establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard and extension of the Frontex mandate (December 2015)

Legal migration package including revision of Blue Card (March 2016)

Further reform of the Dublin Regulation (March 2016)

Proposal for a structured system on resettlement (March 2016)