Meeting informally in Warsaw on Thursday 30 January, the ministers for home affairs and migration will discuss three topics: new and innovative solutions in migration management (see EUROPE 13563/9), preparedness and the future ‘European Union Internal Security Strategy’.
They will begin with the session devoted to new and innovative solutions in migration management, in the context of the forthcoming revision of the Returns Directive and the weaponisation of migration by third countries at the EU’s external borders, notably between Poland and Belarus or Finland and Russia.
The second session, organised over lunch, will be devoted to strengthening “Europe’s Civil and Military Preparedness” and the contribution of the Home Affairs sector. This discussion is based on the report by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö (see EUROPE 13515/1), submitted in October.
“Firstly, we are facing threats stemming from the aggressive policies of certain governments and political instability of entire regions of the world, and secondly, challenges arising from the consequences of climate change”, notes the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU in its preparatory note.
The ministers will be asked to say what measures should be taken as a matter of priority to better prepare the societies of EU Member States for the potential security challenges posed by new and emerging risks and threats. “Is it advisable to work towards a comprehensive and uniform EU-wide alert and crisis communication system to inform citizens of threats? How can the European Union and NATO help in boosting societal risk and threat awareness and to further enhance preparation both at individual and organisational level?”.
In the afternoon, the ministers will be asked to provide input for the future ‘European Union Internal Security Strategy’, expected in 2025. “We live in an era of anxiety and uncertainty, where every day shows that security cannot be taken for granted, where we face threats to our public order and security, our freedoms, our democracies and our lifestyle on a daily basis. Our public order is facing an unprecedented variety of threats”, notes the Presidency.
“This security picture continues to evolve. Terrorism remains a persistent threat posing a serious risk to the national security of Member States. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East increase the risk of smuggling people and goods, infiltration by criminal groups and other consequences linked to armed conflicts”.
Disinformation campaigns stimulated or supported by foreign actors are another threat. The EU and its Member States are constantly faced with state-sponsored and non-state-sponsored hybrid attacks targeting critical infrastructures such as energy networks, healthcare systems and government and financial institutions.
“There is no doubt that the EU needs more innovative and bold solutions”, adds the note, which calls for a new concept of security for the EU that includes all its dimensions: internal, external, information, economic, energy, food and health.
“The key word that needs special emphasis is adaptability”, continues the Presidency.
Ministers will be asked to identify priority threats and actions.
Links to discussion notes: https://aeur.eu/f/f9q ; https://aeur.eu/f/f9r ; https://aeur.eu/f/f9s (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)