On Thursday 8 December, EU Home Affairs Ministers continued their discussions on migration, which were initiated on 25 November when an extraordinary meeting of the EU Council was convened after the row between Paris and Rome over the disembarkation of migrants rescued at sea.
In particular, they agreed to make progress towards the finalisation of three texts of the 2016 Asylum Package and supported the efforts of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council to work on the concept of solidarity and adequate responsibility with a view to amending the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management (ex-Dublin) (see EUROPE 13079/10).
“We will open the trilogues on Eurodac, progress with the European Parliament is welcome”, said Czech Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan.
For the Commissioner for European Affairs, Ylva Johansson, this is a very important step “towards adopting the Pact on Migration and Asylum” by the end of the legislature. The Commissioner also welcomed the “political approval” of Member States for the efforts made on the concept of solidarity.
In concrete terms, Member States agreed to finalise the texts on the EU resettlement framework and the Directives on the qualification and conditions of asylum seekers. In exchange, Parliament said it was ready to move forward on the ‘Migrant Screening’ and ‘Eurodac’ Regulations, with the possibility of a first trilogue by December yet to be confirmed, although the Minister expressed confidence.
With regard to the concept of solidarity and adequate responsibility, “we know that compromises have to be made; we really hope that the Swedish Presidency will be able to do the legal work” on this concept, added the Czech Minister.
In addition, at lunch on Thursday, the Ministers discussed return policy and took stock of the various migration routes, including the Balkans.
The situation of NGOs and sea rescue operations for migrants was not really discussed. The Commission’s contact group on the subject of rescue at sea and disembarkation of migrants is not expected to meet until January or February. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)