Press Release: European Commission makes progress on Agenda on Migration

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details IP/15/5039 (27.05.15)
Publication Date 27/05/2015
Content Type

Two weeks after presenting the European Agenda on Migration, the European Commission adopted on 27 May 2015 the first specific proposals of its comprehensive approach to improving the management of migration.

Following the major loss of life in the Mediterranean in April 2015, European leaders made a firm commitment to solidarity amongst Member States to address the common migratory challenges.

The specific proposals concerned were:

+ Relocation: Emergency response mechanism to assist Italy and Greece
+ Resettlement
+ An EU Action plan against migrant smuggling
+ Guidelines on Fingerprinting
+ A public consultation on the future of the Blue Card Directive
+ a new Operational Plan for Operation Triton

On the same day UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave a speech in the European Parliament. He said Europe should focus on saving lives when dealing with migration During the plenary session he called attention to the 1,800 people who drowned while crossing the Mediterranean in 2015: 'Europe has an important role to play and a collective responsibility to act. Saving lives should be the priority'.

In a joint statement released on the 1 June 2015, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and his French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve, called for the migrant quotas proposed by the European Commission to be made more equitable.

The two ministers said that the plan 'should take more properly into account the efforts already made by member states regarding international protection, and other forms of assistance, pointing out that Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and Hungary have so far taken in 75% of asylum-seekers.

Libya's ambassador to the United Nations stated that the government would not allow any UN action to endorse Europe's military plan to fight migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean until European governments stopped conversations with coastal militias.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5039_en.htm
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Managing migration better in all aspects: A European Agenda on Migration http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-managing-migration-better-in-all-aspects-a-european-agenda-on-migration/
ESO: Background information: EU commission engulfed in migrant 'quota' battle http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-commission-engulfed-in-migrant-quota-battle/
ESO: Background information: Council establishes EU naval operation to disrupt human smugglers in the Mediterranean http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-establishes-eu-naval-operation-to-disrupt-human-smugglers-in-the-mediterranean/
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/15/5038, 27.05.15: First measures under the European Agenda on Migration: Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5038_en.htm
BBC News, 27.05.15: Migrant crisis: EU asks states to accept 40,000 asylum seekers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32894624
EUObserver, 27.05.15: Mediterranean in 'perfect storm' on migration https://euobserver.com/justice/128841
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/5061, 27.05.15: Press statement by Commissioner Avramopoulos on the first measures under the European Agenda on Migration http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-5061_en.htm
Kathimerini, 27.05.15: Commissioner Avramopoulos calls for EU solidarity on immigration issue http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/05/2015_550432
Deutsche Welle, 27.05.15: Ban: more EU migrant relocation, less Mediterranean military http://dw.de/p/1FXNJ
EUObserver, 27.05.15: EU to pay member states to take asylum seekers https://euobserver.com/justice/128848
Politico, 27.05.15: Commission pitches cash for asylum seekers plan http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-poised-to-set-40000-migrant-relocation-goal/
The Guardian, 27.05.15: EU countries to take in 40,000 asylum seekers in migration quota proposal http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/27/eu-countries-take-40000-asylum-seekers-migration-quota-syria-uk
EUObserver, 27.05.15: UN chief says EU boat-sinking plan won't work https://euobserver.com/justice/128853
European Parliament: Press Release, 28.05.15: Ban Ki-moon on migration: “Saving lives should be the top priority” http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150526STO59634/
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 28.05.15: Brussels presents refugee quotas http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER163707-Brussels-presents-refugee-quotas
The Conversation, 28.05.15: EU’s refugee relocation plans desperately need a reality check https://theconversation.com/eus-refugee-relocation-plans-desperately-need-a-reality-check-42439
EUObserver, 28.05.15: EU border chief wants protection from armed smugglers https://euobserver.com/justice/128875
Deutsche Welle, 01.06.15: Germany and France call for EU migrant plan revision http://dw.de/p/1Fa3x
EUObserver, 01.06.15: Germany and France criticise EU migration plan https://euobserver.com/justice/128913
EurActiv, 03.06.15: Libya blocks UN action on EU migrant plan http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/libya-blocks-un-action-eu-migrant-plan-315092
EurActiv, 04.06.15: Juncker: Commission won’t change its migration agenda http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/juncker-commission-wont-change-its-migration-agenda-315111
EurActiv, 08.06.15: Many EU countries say “no” to immigration quotas http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/many-eu-countries-say-no-immigration-quotas-315184
Politico, 09.06.15: Juncker’s migration backfire http://www.politico.eu/article/juncker-migration-plan-quota-refugees/
EUObserver, 09.06.15: Report: EU asylum plan likely delayed https://euobserver.com/justice/129026
The Netherlands: Government: News, 10.06.15: Cabinet positive about European migration proposals http://www.government.nl/news/2015/06/10/cabinet-positive-about-european-migration-proposals.html
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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