Interior ministers to address certain shortfalls in area of migration
Luxembourg (13 October) - The European Border and Coast Guard i, IT measures improving border management, migration and migration compacts, as well as the reform of common asylum system were among key topics discussed by the October Home Affairs Council (JHA) i. The day-long meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák.
"We made a commitment to strengthen EASO by providing additional experts. However, we are at the limits in terms of the right profile of experts available, therefore we need EASO to train our experts so we can send them out."
Robert Kaliňák
Migration
Home affairs ministers discussed the shortfalls in the implementation of the different migration measures adopted so far. They paid particular attention to the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement, the situation in Italy and Greece as well as the state of play on relocation, resettlement, and the calls by the agencies for experts.
Ministers took good note of the recommendations proposed by the Presidency and undertook in particular to increase the number of experts provided by member states to the agencies (especially EASO).
"We made a commitment to strengthen EASO by providing additional experts. However, we are at the limits in terms of the right profile of experts available, therefore we need EASO to train our experts so we can send them out. Let me stress that it is not about lack of political will but lack of capacity. We are set to seek ways to improve this situation," said Minister of Interior of Slovakia and President of the Council Robert Kaliňák.
Finding solutions to migratory pressures
Common European Asylum System reform
Ministers endorsed the three-track approach suggested by the Presidency for the examination of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) reform package during its term:
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-focusing on the examination of the Eurodac i regulation and on the European Union Agency for Asylum regulation, with the aim of having a negotiating position in the Council in December;
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-in parallel, holding discussions on the Dublin regulation and the Asylum Procedures regulation, Reception Conditions directive and Qualification regulation;
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-simultaneously, initiating the technical examination of the regulation establishing a Union Resettlement Framework.
Regarding the Eurodac regulation, Ministers confirmed their support for broader and simplified access by law enforcement authorities to the database. On the European Union Agency for Asylum, some delegations agreed that the monitoring mechanism for the future Agency could be similar to the vulnerability assessment in the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation.
Ministers held also a debate on the Union Resettlement Framework regulation and tasked officials to continue the examination of this proposal.
IT measures related to border management
The Council took note of the progress on several files regarding information technology (IT) measures related to border management. Ministers had the opportunity to exchange their views on the use of such measures and agreed on the need to ensure a coherent approach.
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