Uformelt møde i Det Europæiske Råd den 12. november 2015 - Bilag 1: Hyrdebrev forud for uformelt møde i Det Europæiske Råd 12/11-15

Europaudvalget 2015-16
Det Europæiske Råd 12/11-15 Bilag 1
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European Council

The President

Brussels, 3 November 2015

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Our meetings in September and October set orientations in developing a comprehensive European

response to the migration crisis and led to some positive results. The fact that thanks to European

contributions the World Food Programme has been able to increase its assistance to refugees in

the region gives hope to those most affected. However, the situation is still very serious, both in the

region and in Europe. The migratory flow continues at an unprecedented pace. In October we

experienced a record level of 218,000 refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Faced with such a migratory wave, some EU states have been introducing different measures at

internal Schengen borders. As I have warned before, the only way not to dismantle Schengen is to

ensure proper management of EU external borders. We must do all we can to keep Schengen

intact and so any initiative that may lead to the re-establishment of borders within Schengen

should be withheld. If we are to avoid the worst we must speed up our actions. This is why I have

decided to call an informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government, to be held just after the

Valletta Summit, on 12 November at 14.30.

Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 - 1048 Bruxelles/Brussel - Belgique/België

Tél./Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 97 33 - Fax: +32 (0)2 281 67 37

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Uformelt møde i Det Europæiske Råd den 12. november 2015 - Bilag 1: Hyrdebrev forud for uformelt møde i Det Europæiske Råd 12/11-15

The purpose of this meeting will primarily be to assess the state of implementation of the measures

we have decided so far, notably as regards:

1. Stepping up our cooperation with third countries, including Turkey, in order to stem the flows;

2. Implementing the decisions we have taken on relocation;

3. Setting up hotspots in Greece and Italy, as well as reinforcing reception capacities and providing

FRONTEX and EASO with the required additional expertise;

4. Finally, we should discuss how to effectively reinforce the control of our external borders.

Given the speed at which events are developing, it is essential for all of us to have up-to-date

information. I therefore welcome the initiatives taken by the Luxembourg Presidency to activate the

EU's Integrated Political Crisis Response arrangements and to convene an extraordinary Justice

and Home Affairs Council on 9 November, which should usefully inform our discussions in Valletta.

While we will come back to the issue of migration at our regular meeting in December, I do not

exclude that we would need to set further orientations already in Valletta. I will keep you informed

in the run-up to our meeting.

&Salutations

D. TUSK

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