First progress report on the Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration

External action is a crucial component of the comprehensive EU strategy to manage the migration challenge set out in the European Agenda on Migration. The factors driving migration flows today are here to stay. That is why the EU needs a long term response.

A key step had already been taken through the Valletta Summit in November 2015. Then in June 2016, the Commission proposed a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration. The June 2016 European Council endorsed the Partnership Framework and called for its swift implementation, starting with a limited number of countries. In September, the Bratislava roadmap underlined that this process should "lead to reduced flows of illegal migration and increased return rates", and recalled that progress would be assessed by the European Council in December.

The Partnership Framework is an ambitious and forward-looking European approach to deepening cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination. Success will depend on a full commitment from all sides. This means a joint effort of the EU and Member States drawing on the full range of EU levers to address short-term solutions to immediate migration pressure, and to make a deeper investment in tackling the root causes of irregular migration, fostering sustainable development and stability, and opening opportunities for regular migration. This must combine with a genuine partnership with each third country, tailor-made to take specific needs and interests into account and targeted on results. In all cases, the humanitarian and human rights imperatives of EU policy need to stay at the core of the approach.

Against this background, this first report presents the progress made and describes how the High Representative, the Commission and Member States have worked together to implement the Partnership Framework. While achieving well-managed migration is a long term endeavour, the imperative of saving lives, breaking the business model of smugglers and bringing under control irregular movement of people also requires immediate results. The first phase has inevitably put the priority on setting up the new structures and instruments needed to achieve the objectives of the Partnership Framework, but has also seen tangible results.

This Report sets out the key outstanding challenges, and the next steps in the implementation of the Partnership for December and beyond.

ESO: Background information: Managing migration effectively: Commission reports on progress in the implementation of the Partnership Framework with third countries http://www.europeansources.info/record/managing-migration-effectively-commission-reports-on-progress-in-the-implementation-of-the-partnership-framework-with-third-countries/

---