Unlike previous sessions, the subject of migration will not be one of the major subjects of the meeting of the European leaders on Thursday 9 March.
The heads of state or government are expected to go no further than to adopt modest conclusions reiterating their commitment to implementing the actions which were identified in Malta in early February (see EUROPE 11718), to issue alerts of departures in the central Mediterranean from Libya, according to a draft text dated Monday 6 March, of which EUROPE has had sight.
The Twenty-Eight are also expected to renew their commitment to reach consensus on the reform of the Dublin regulation, which determines the responsibilities of the member states in processing asylum applications, under the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 11712), even though there is a certain delay on the subject and despite the sensitive plank of management mechanisms for migration crises, a national source commented. In any event, the summit will not provide the opportunity to revisit the issue of the sharing-out of refugees, the source added. This controversial issue will be discussed at the June summit.
The Maltese Presidency has confirmed that there was no question of including the reform of Dublin on the agenda of the summit and that the highly complex issue of effective solidarity, on which the Presidency is trying to find solutions, will not prevent it from pursuing the objective laid down of an agreement by the end of June.
In any case, the fact that migration has been granted such a modest place on the agenda does not mean that the situation has been resolved. In recent weeks, specific problems have been noted with the implementation of the measures taken for Libya, the same source said, in relation to training for the Libyan coast guard, for instance. Hence the importance of working with Libya's neighbouring countries and continuing with the framework of targeted partnerships already underway with five African countries. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)