Leaders from the European Union and EU member states will meet here on Thursday against the background of the migration and refugee crisis, while they will narrow in on setting up a possible EU border guard.
According to the European Council, EU leaders will continue to discuss migration in aspects of strengthening of the EU's external borders, including a possible EU border guard, offering support for the countries in the neighborhood and the refugees there, and addressing the root causes through cooperation with the countries of origin and transit.
"Let us be clear about one thing. The exceptionally easy access to Europe is one of the main pull factors," said European Council President Donald Tusk in his invitation letter ahead of the summit.
"Even if the influx of refugees slows down during winter, we must be ready for spring and the threat of bigger waves flowing to Europe. In fact, all the leaders I met in the region spoke about millions of potential new refugees," he said.
Leaders will also take stock of the next steps with regard to the UK referendum on its membership of the EU, and the EU side will confirm its commitment towards seeking viable solutions, said Tusk.
Preparations for the Paris climate conference, an update on the recent meeting of the Normandy format ( France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine) on the situation in the East of Ukraine, and the work on completing the Economic and Monetary Union will also be on the two-day summit agenda.
Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
14/10/15
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Related:
According to the European Council, EU leaders will continue to discuss migration in aspects of strengthening of the EU's external borders, including a possible EU border guard, offering support for the countries in the neighborhood and the refugees there, and addressing the root causes through cooperation with the countries of origin and transit.
"Let us be clear about one thing. The exceptionally easy access to Europe is one of the main pull factors," said European Council President Donald Tusk in his invitation letter ahead of the summit.
"Even if the influx of refugees slows down during winter, we must be ready for spring and the threat of bigger waves flowing to Europe. In fact, all the leaders I met in the region spoke about millions of potential new refugees," he said.
Leaders will also take stock of the next steps with regard to the UK referendum on its membership of the EU, and the EU side will confirm its commitment towards seeking viable solutions, said Tusk.
Preparations for the Paris climate conference, an update on the recent meeting of the Normandy format ( France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine) on the situation in the East of Ukraine, and the work on completing the Economic and Monetary Union will also be on the two-day summit agenda.
Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
14/10/15
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Related:
Turkey, EU agree to migrant action plan (Report)
Greece 'can't discuss' Aegean refugee patrols with Turkey
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EU Displays 'Zero' Ability to Defend External Borders From refugees - (Milos Zeman)
UN resolution allows EU naval action on migrant boats
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Millions more refugees could flee Syria, Turkey warns EU
Syrian refugees increasingly return to war zones in homeland
European Union leaders are to meet in Brussels later today for a summit that will focus on the migration and refugee crisis...
ReplyDeleteIn a letter to EU leaders ahead of today's summit, EU Council President Donald Tusk warned of a new migratory wave that could mean millions of new arrivals in the spring.
Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, most via Turkey, and EU leaders are seeking closer co-operation with the government in Ankara.
The summit will discuss strengthening the EU's external borders - including a possible EU border guard.
The EU leaders will also be informed about talks on new EU membership terms for Britain ahead of its in/out referendum, to be held by the end of 2017.
Many of the elements of Europe's response to the crisis have been hammered out in recent weeks.
A plan to relocate 160,000 refugees across the EU, more funding for the UN refugee agency and the world food programme and greater resources for the EU's external border agency Frontex have been discussed.
But European governments have been slow to follow up the hard-fought agreements with the actual cash and manpower needed.
The European Commission has complained that member states have only offered 48 personnel to help boost Frontex - the numbers needed are closer to 800..............http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1015/734930-eu-migrants/
15/10/15