Valletta Summit on migration, 11-12 November 2015 / Informal meeting of heads of state or government, Valletta, 12 November 2015

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Series Title
Series Details 11-12.11.15
Publication Date 11/11/2015
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Agenda highlights

The summit will address the challenges but also the opportunities of migration. It will also recognise that migration is a shared responsibility of countries of origin, transit and destination.

Discussions among participants will focus on five specific areas:

+ addressing the root causes by working to help create peace, stability and economic development
+ improving work on promoting and organising legal migration channels
+ enhancing the protection of migrants and asylum seekers, particularly vulnerable groups
+ tackling more effectively the exploitation and trafficking of migrants
+ working more closely to improve cooperation on return and readmission

Connected to this meeting but formally separate, European Council President Donald Tusk convened an informal meeting of heads of state or government on 12 November 2015 to discuss the latest developments in the migration crisis. This meeting will take place just after the Valletta Summit on migration.

The primary focus will be to assess the implementation of the measures agreed in September and October 2015, including:

+ stepping up cooperation with third countries, including Turkey
+ decisions on relocation
+ setting up hotspots in Greece and Italy and reinforcing FRONTEX and EASO
+ effectively reinforcing control of EU external borders

EU heads of state or government will also set further orientations if needed.
In April 2015 the European Council called for an international summit to discuss migration issues with African and other key countries concerned, as part of the response to the growing migration challenges facing Europe.

The 11-12 November 2015 conference built on existing cooperation processes between Europe and Africa, particularly the Rabat and Khartoum processes on migration, and the EU-Africa Dialogue on Migration and Mobility.

It recognised that migration is a shared responsibility of countries of origin, transit and destination. EU and Africa worked in a spirit of partnership to find common solutions to challenges of mutual interest.

Leaders participating to the summit adopted a political declaration and an action plan designed to:

+ address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement
+ enhance cooperation on legal migration and mobility
+ reinforce the protection of migrants and asylum seekers
+ prevent and fight irregular migration, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings
+ work more closely to improve cooperation on return, readmission and reintegration.

Ministers also agreed a list of 16 concrete actions to be implemented by the end of 2016.

The existing mechanisms of the Rabat Process, the Khartoum Process and of the Joint EU-Africa strategy would be used to monitor the implementation of the action plan.

Emergency Trust Fund for Africa
The EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa was also formally launched at the occasion of the Valletta summit.

It would provide additional funding to support the implementation of the action plan.

Connected to this meeting but formally separate, European Council President Donald Tusk convened an informal meeting of heads of state or government on 12 November 2015 to discuss the latest developments in the migration crisis. This meeting took place just after the Valletta Summit on migration.

EU leaders discussed the latest developments in the migration crisis and how to accelerate the implementation of the measures agreed in September and October 2015:

+ stepping up cooperation with third countries, including Turkey
+ decisions on relocation
+ setting up hotspots in Greece and Italy and reinforcing FRONTEX and EASO
+ effectively reinforcing control of EU external borders

President Tusk warned that the future of Schengen was at stake. He repeated the need for the EU to regain the control of its external borders and to effectively proceed to the registration of migrants: 'It must be clear that without registration there will be no rights', said President Tusk.

EU leaders particularly focused their discussions on cooperation with Turkey. President Tusk announced a possible EU-Turkey summit to be organised as soon as possible (probably before the end of 2015)

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/11/11-12/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Meeting: European Council, 15-16 October 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/meeting-european-council-15-16-october-2015/
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
ESO: Background information: Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-meeting-on-the-western-balkans-migration-route-leaders-agree-on-17-point-plan-of-action/
EurActiv, 04.11.15: Tusk calls migration summit number 5 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/tusk-calls-migration-summit-number-5-319143
Politico, 03.11.15: Tusk calls another EU summit on migration http://www.politico.eu/article/tusk-calls-another-eu-summit-on-migration-refugees-crisis/
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 03.11.15: Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to the members of the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/04-tusk-invitation-letter-informal-euco-valletta/
EUObserver, 04.11.15: EU and Africa to clash on readmissions https://euobserver.com/migration/130960
EUObserver, 06.11.15: Valletta leak backs legal migration and returns https://euobserver.com/migration/131007
EurActiv, 09.11.15: Avramopoulos: Without Turkey’s help, refugee crisis will worsen http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/avramopoulos-without-turkeys-help-refugee-crisis-will-worsen-319279
EUObserver, 09.11.15: EU and Africa still at loggerheads on Valletta accord https://euobserver.com/migration/131028
EurActiv, 10.11.15: Parliament leaders sign joint refugee letter ahead of Valletta summit http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/parliament-leaders-sign-joint-refugee-letter-ahead-valletta-summit-319324
EP: EPRS: At a Glance, 09.11.15: EU–Africa Summit on Migration: Valletta, 11-12 November 2015 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2015/571324/EPRS_ATA(2015)571324_EN.pdf
African Union: Press Release, 10.11.15: Africa-EU Migration Summit in Valletta, Malta http://cpauc.au.int/en/content/africa-eu-migration-summit-valletta-malta
viEUws, 09.11.15: Migrant crisis: EU funds to tackle migration an 'insult' to Africa, says AU Ambassador http://www.vieuws.eu/citizens-consumers/migrant-crisis-eu-funds-to-tackle-migration-an-insult-to-africa-says-au-ambassador/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Policy+Alert+-+Revised&utm_content=Policy+Alert+-+Revised+CID_c2d676435a7783188e889cecf182566c&utm_source=viEUws%20newsletter%20%20email%20alerts&utm_term=Migrant%20crisis%20EU%20funds%20to%20tackle%20migration%20an%20insult%20to%20Africa%20says%20AU%20Ambassador
AP, 09.11.15: Experts raise concerns over lopsided EU-Africa migrant deals http://bigstory.ap.org/article/09144c3a020d497f875451d0d55b7e9e/experts-raise-concerns-over-lopsided-eu-africa-migrant
European Commission: DG Home Affairs: European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/background-information/docs/2_factsheet_emergency_trust_fund_africa_en.pdf
AEDH: Press release, 10.11.15: Joint declaration : Human Rights at the core of Migration Policies http://www.aedh.eu/Declaration-conjointe-Les-droits,3078.html
Council of the European Union: Statement, 10.11.15: Speech by President Donald Tusk at the special session of the Parliament of Malta http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/10-tusk-speech-parliament-malta/
Council of the European Union: Background, 10.11.15: 2015 Valletta summit on migration - background on EU action http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/11/11-valletta-summit-press-pack/
European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 11.11.15: Migration: Schulz pleads for long-term approach together with African partners http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151110STO01875/
The Guardian, 11.11.15: EU's deep dilemmas over refugees laid bare at Malta summit http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/11/eus-deep-dilemmas-over-refugees-laid-bare-at-malta-summit
Blog: Open Europe, 11.11.15: Deportation agreements to remain illusive prize at Valletta Summit http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/deportation-agreements-to-remain-illusive-prize-at-valletta-summit/
EurActiv, 12.11.15: EU seeks deal with Africa to stem migrant flows http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/eu-seeks-deal-africa-stem-migrant-flows-319389
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 12.11.15: EU wants to stop exodus from Africa http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER173145-EU-wants-to-stop-exodus-from-Africa
ESO: Background information: EU invites Turkey to the summit table http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-invites-turkey-to-the-summit-table/
Politico, 12.11.15: Tusk: Schengen at risk of collapse http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-asks-for-african-help-to-stem-refugee-flow-malta-summit-migration/
BBC News, 12.11.15: Europe fund to tackle African migration 'not enough' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34797715
European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 12.11.15: Schulz: The refugee crisis can only be tackled if all EU countries commit to dealing with it http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151112STO02462/
EP: EPRS: At a Glance, 20.11.15: Outcome Of The Informal 12 November 2015 European Council On Migration In Valletta http://epthinktank.eu/2015/11/20/outcome-of-the-informal-12-november-2015-european-council-on-migration-in-valletta/

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