The European leaders will return to the subject of migration, in particular its external dimension, relating to the financing of projects with countries of transit and origin and recent crises at external borders. Although the situation on the borders between Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus has improved, the leaders will be asked to once again strongly condemn “the instrumentalisation of migrants and refugees by the Belarusian regime and the humanitarian crisis it has created”.
“The EU will continue to counter the hybrid attack launched by Belarus with a determined response”, the European Council is expected to say, in accordance with draft conclusions dated 13 December.
While the discussion on the financing of anti-migrant walls by the European budget drove debate at the last European Summit of 21 and 22 October, the discussion this time should focus on the role of Frontex in protecting the external borders. During the Belarusian crisis, Poland refused an intervention by Frontex.
The European Council could stress “the importance of effectively protecting the EU’s external borders, including by strengthening the EU’s legal framework. In this respect it calls on the Council to examine the Commission proposal on provisional emergency measures” (based on Article 78.3 of the Treaty and which does not satisfy Poland at this stage). The European Council is also expected to emphasise the importance of “promptly implementing restrictive measures, following the adoption of the fifth package of listings, and being prepared to adopt further measures as necessary”.
The Heads of State or government will also reiterate the importance of preventing departures to the EU.
In particular, they will call on “the Commission and the High Representative to report to the Council on measures to ensure effective returns and the full implementation of existing readmission agreements and arrangements” and ask it to take forward action plans with third countries without delay.
Several Member States, including the Netherlands, intend to raise the issue of secondary movements of migrants between Member States during this discussion.
Link to the project: https://bit.ly/3pYPkUg (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)