Amended Legislative Proposal - EU Agency for Asylum:

On the 12th of September 2018, the European Commission published an Amended Proposal for a Regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum and repealing Regulation (EU) No 439/2010 to develop the concepts of regional disembarkation arrangements as well as the controlled centres as a follow-up to the European Council conclusions of the 28th of June 2018. The original Commission proposal can be found in the ZEI Monitor for May 2016.

Legislative Proposals - Next Long-Term EU Budget 2021-2027:

On the 12th of June 2018, the European Commission proposed to almost triple funding for migration and border management to 34.9 billion euro, as compared to 13 billion euro in the previous period. (Press release)

The proposed legislative instruments include:

1. A Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Asylum and Migration Fund
2. A Proposal for a Regulation on a Financial Instrument for Customs Control Equipment (as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund)
3. A Proposal for a Regulation on a Financial Instrument for Border Management and Visa (as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund)

EU Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa - New Projects: On the 29th of May 2018, the European Commission adopted new programmes and projects worth a total of 467 million euro under the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. EUTF is based on a Commission Decision from the 20th of October 2015 (see ZEI Monitor 2015) and the Constitutive Agreement between the Commission and the EU's member states. (More)

Legislative Proposal - European Network of Immigration Liaison Officers:

On the 16th of May 2018, the European Commission published a Proposal for a Regulation on the Creation of a European Network of Immigration Liaison Officers (ILOs) who are deployed by EU member states to non-EU countries. Given that the ILOs' line of command (tasking and reporting) is conducted within national authorities, the revision seeks to reinforce cooperation between member states at EU level by establishing a formal governance mechanism ("Steering Board") composed of representatives of the Commission, member states ILOs’ back offices and EU Agencies. (More)

Legislative Proposal - Visa Information System:

On the 16th of May 2018, the European Commission put forward a Proposal for a Regulation on the Visa Information System (VIS), the database containing information on persons applying for Schengen visas. The system upgrade aims to better respond to evolving security and migratory challenges and improve the EU's external border management. The proposal is the second step of the reform of the common EU visa policy and follows the amendments to the Visa Code, presented by the Commission on the 14 th of March 2018. (More)

Legislative Proposal - EU Visa Code:

On the 14th of March 2018, the European Commission published a Proposal for a Regulation on Reforming the EU's Visa Code. The proposed changes to the Visa Code aim to make it easier for legitimate travellers to obtain a visa for coming to Europe, facilitating tourism, trade and business, whilst strengthening security and mitigating irregular migration risks. (More)

"European Partnership for Integration": On the 20th of December 2017 the European Commission and the EU Social and Economic partners signed a 'European Partnership for Integration', laying down key principles and commitments to support and strengthen opportunities for refugees and migrants legally residing in the EU to integrate into the European labour market. (More)

Entry into Force - Entry-Exit System at External Borders:

The following two regulations are based on legislative proposals of the European Commission. Details can be found in the ZEI Monitor for April 2016.

1. On the 30th November 2017, the Regulation on the Establishment of the Entry/Exit System (EES) came into effect. The goal of the regulation is to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the member states and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes, and amending the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EU) No 1077/2011.
2. Besides, the Regulation on the Use of the Entry/Exit System amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 entered into force.

Recommendations - Legal Pathways and Return Policy:

On the 27 September 2017 the European Commission announced the initiative of establishing a new resettlement scheme for at least 50,000 refugees, a Recommendation on Legal Pathways for Migration which the Commission can help finance and coordinate, and a Recommendation on a Common Return Handbook to be used by the competent authorities in member states. (More)

Protection of Children:

On the 12th of April 2017, the European Commission published a Communication on the protection of children in migration, outlining a number of measures. (More)

EU Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa - Libya

On the 12th of April 2017, the EU Trust Fund for Africa upon proposal from the European Commission, adopted a 90 million euro programme to step up the protection of migrants and reinforce "migration management" in Libya. The EUTF is based on a Commission Decision from the 20th of October 2015 (see ZEI Monitor 2015) and the Constitutive Agreement between the Commission and the EU's member states. (More)

Entry into Force - Targeted Modification of the Schengen Borders Code:

On the 15th of March 2017, the Regulation on the Targeted Modification of the Schengen Borders Code came into effect. This Regulation is based on a legislative proposal by the European Commission from the 15th of December 2015 (see ZEI Migration Monitor 2015 below).

Action Plan on Return Policy: On the 2nd of March 2017, the European Commission presented an Action Plan on a More Effective Return Policy and a Recommendation on Implementing the Return Policy-Directive 2008/115/EC. The Commission notably recommends measures enabling member states to prevent absconding of irregular migrants and to set up voluntary return programmes. (More)

"Progress Report" European Border and Coast Guard Agency: Since the entry into force of the new Regulation in October 2016, the Agency has organised 78 return operations to return 3,421 irregular migrants – more than in the whole of 2015 (total 2016: 232 operations). This is what the Progress Report published on the 25th of January 2017 finds. (More)

• Entry into Force - Relocation: On the 29th of September 2016, the Council Decision (EU) 2016/1754 amending Decision (EU) 2015/1601²⁹ establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece" came into effect to facilitate the relocation of applicants for international protection.

• The EU's modest record of relocation and resettlement: On the 28th of September 2016, the European Commission reported on the progress made on the EU's relocation and resettlement schemes under the European Agenda on Migration and the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement. One year after the entry into force of the relocation schemes 5,651 persons in total have been relocated from Greece (4,455) and Italy (1,196). (More³⁰)

• Cash Transfers to Refugee Families in Turkey: On the 8th of September 2016 the European Union signed its largest ever humanitarian programme using direct cash-transfers to cover the everyday needs of the most vulnerable refugee families in Turkey. The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) is financed with 348 million euro by the EU and its member states under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. (More³¹)

• EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis: On the 22nd of June 2016, the European Commission announced the launch of new projects worth more than 200 million euro to support up to one million refugees fleeing the war in Syria and their overstretched host communities in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. The package of projects was adopted at the fourth board meeting of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis. Members of the board include representatives from the European Commission, EU member states, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as international financial institutions. (More³²)

• Communication - Partnership Framework with Third Countries: On the 7th of June 2016, the European Commission published a Communication for a new "results-oriented" Partnership Framework to better focus EU action and resources on tackling root causes of irregular migration by improving third countries' economic and political development. The Commission's proposals are scheduled to be on the agenda of the European Council in June. (More³³)

• Report - EU-Turkey Agreement: On the 20th of April 2016, the European Commission reported on the implementation of the EU-Turkey Agreement. (More³⁴)

• Emergency Assistance Instrument for Refugees - Funding: On the 19th of April 2016 the European Commission announced that it would provide 83 million euro under the new Emergency Assistance Instrument (see legislative process in March 2016 below), to improve living conditions for refugees in Greece, with funding made available immediately to the UNHCR, the International Federation of the Red Cross and six international NGOs. (More³⁵)

• Emergency Trust for Africa - Non-Legislative Measures: On the 18th of April 2016, the European Commission launched 20 new measures totalling a budget of over 280 million euro to assist the Sahel region and the Lake Chad Basin under the 'Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa³⁶'. The measures are supposed to meet the commitments made in the Action Plan adopted at the Valletta Summit (11‑12 November 2015). (More³⁷)

• Funding the International Organisation for Migration (IOM): On the 31st of March 2016 the European Commission awarded 1.14 million euro in emergency assistance to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to set up an Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Scheme to help irregular migrants being stuck in Italy to return to their country of origin. (More³⁸)

• Legislative Proposal - Relocation: On the 21st of March 2016, following the agreement between the European Council and Turkey (18th of March 2016), the European Commission presented a legislative Proposal for an Amendment to the Council Decision 2015/1601³⁹ of the 22th of September 2015 to relocate people in need for international protection from Italy and Greece. (More⁴⁰)

• Communication - EU-Turkey Cooperation in Migration: On the 16th of March 2016, the European Commission published a Communication on how to take forward EU-Turkey cooperation on the refugee crisis. The text outlines the legal, operational and financial details of how the plan which EU leaders and Turkey agreed (on the basis of a set of six principles) on 7th March could be feasible. (More⁴¹)

• Entry into Force - Emergency Assistance Instrument for Refugees: On the 15th of March 2016, the Council Regulation for an Emergency Assistance Instrument⁴² went into force. It originates in the Commission's proposal from the 2nd of March 2016.

• Legislative Proposal - Emergency Assistance Instrument for Refugees: On the 2nd of March 2016, the European Commission has proposed a Council Regulation for an Emergency Assistance Instrument⁴³ amounting to a total of 700 million euro to help member States cope with large numbers of refugees. The proposal is a direct follow up to the European Council that took place from the 18th to the 19th of February 2016, when governments called on the Commission to develop the capacity to provide emergency assistance internally. (More⁴⁴)

• Entry into Force - European Travel Document for the Return of Illegal Third-Country Nationals: On the 26th of October 2016, the Regulation on a European Travel Document for the Return of Illegal TCNs (third-country nationals) went into force. It is based on a legislative proposal by the European Commission from the 15th of December 2015.
  
  
• Back to Schengen-Report: On the 28th of September 2016, the European Commission presented its "Back to Schengen-Report" which affirms the Commission's strategy of legalising temporary controls at internal Schengen borders carried out by Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The report deems them proportionate and in line with the Council's Recommendation. (More)
  
  
• Entry into Force - European Border and Coast Guard: On the 14th of September 2016, the Regulation 2016 / 1624 on the European Border and Coast Guard amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 went into effect. The Regulation is based on the Commission's proposal from the 15th of December 2015. The European Border and Coast Guard will combine a new reinforced Agency, building on the foundations laid by FRONTEX, with the ability to draw on a reserve pool of people and equipment. According to the Commission, member states will keep their competence and sovereignty over border control. They will continue to manage the external border day to day. But crucially, the European Border and Coast Guard will provide support to all member states and be able to identify and intervene to address weaknesses in advance. (More)
• Legalising temporary controls at internal Schengen borders: On the 4th of May 2016, the European Commission proposed a Recommendation, to be decided upon by the Council, to prolong proportionate controls at certain internal Schengen borders, namely in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway for a maximum period of six months. (More)
  
  
• Back to Schengen-Roadmap - External Border Control by Greece: On the 12th of April 2016, the European Commission as part of its Back to Schengen-Roadmap presented its assessment of the Greek Action Plan detailing the progress and the deficiencies of Greek external border policies. The legal basis of the Commission's assessment is the Schengen Evaluation Mechanism (SEM) which was established in October 2013 by the Barroso Commission, mandating Commission-led teams and Frontex to carry out announced and unannounced evaluations in member states on a multi-annual and an annual basis. (More)
  
  
• Legislative Proposals - Entry-Exit System at External Borders: On the 6th of April 2016, the European Commission presented two legislative proposals as part of the broader 'Smart Borders Package', addressing the role of information systems in enhancing external border management, internal security and the fight against terrorism and organised crime: (Press release)

  1. A revised Proposal for a Regulation on the Establishment of an Entry-Exit System to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third country nationals crossing the external borders to speed-up, facilitate and reinforce border check procedures.

  2. A Proposal for a Regulation on the Use of the Entry/Exit System amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399

• Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders: On the 6th of April 2016, the European Commission adopted a Communication on Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security, setting out options on how existing and future information systems could enhance both external border management and internal security in the EU. (More)

• European Summit Conclusions: On the 7th of March 2016 the EU Heads of State or Government addressed the refugee crisis. They agreed on the following six goals:

  • to return all new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into the Greek islands with the costs covered by the EU;

  • to resettle, for every Syrian readmitted by Turkey from Greek islands, another Syrian from Turkey to the EU member states, within existing commitments;

  • to accelerate the implementation of visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens by the end of June 2016;

  • to speed up the disbursement of the initially allocated 3 billion euro to ensure funding of the Refugee Facility for Syrians;

  • to prepare for the opening of new chapters in the accession negotiations with Turkey asap, building on the October 2015 European Council conclusions;

  • to work with Turkey in any joint endeavour to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria which would allow for the local population and refugees to live in areas which will be more safe.

• Back-To-Schengen-Roadmap: On the 3rd of March 2016, the European Commission presented a detailed Roadmap of the concrete steps needed to return to order when it comes to the management of the EU's external and internal borders. The Roadmap covers the following aspects: (More)
  • Ensuring the protection of the external borders
  • Immediate support for Greece
  • Applying the rules and stopping the wave-through approach
  • Internal border controls: from a patchwork to a coherent approach
  
  
• Schengen Evaluation Report: On the 27th of January 2016 the European Commission discussed the draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece. The report shows that there are serious deficiencies in the management of the external border in Greece. (More)