Brussels, 30/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 27 June, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi described the conclusions of the Council on the future of justice and home affairs policy, at the end of a summit that mainly focused on the presidency of the Commission and Ukraine, as “a good agreement on the immigration section. We feel a little less alone in the Mediterranean”. The discussion was primarily motivated by the end of the Stockholm programme under which the Commission has put forward a whole raft of legislative proposals over recent years, but which acquired particular importance following the Lampedusa tragedy last October, when a boat sank with 366 migrants drowning off the Italian coast.
It was, however, on conclusions that contained no great surprises that the member states reached an agreement. Italy benefited from the renewed commitments on the Frontex agency missions patrolling the Mediterranean and which is expected to strengthen the “operational” assistance to countries faced with the task of dealing with migrants arriving. In the long term, the possibility of the creation of a European border guard may see the light of day.
On the question of asylum, the conclusions were less ambitious than planned and the EU28 did not explore the possibility of mutual recognition of decisions made in the asylum field. This possibility had been included in previous versions of the conclusions but was struck out at the request of certain countries, particularly those of northern Europe.
For the rest, the conclusions highlight the need to work with third countries to prevent migrants embarking on dangerous crossings to the EU; the fight against traffickers and strengthening regional protection programmes that allow refugees, particularly Syrians, to have secure reception facilities in neighbouring countries.
On another subject: the European anti-terrorism coordinator has had his role confirmed. As European combatants who have left to fight in Syria are returning, the EU28 underlines the importance of developing exchange of information on these returns and putting in place tools such as the European PNR, which is still pending.
In the context of justice priorities, member states highlighted the contribution of justice to economic growth. (SP)