Algeria
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Palestine *
Syria *
TunisiaEuropean Summit: migrants, Syria, Libya and UK on the discussion table
February 19, 2016
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The European Council debates on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February 2016 are focussed on negotiations with the United Kingdom and on the current crisis of migrants and refugees.
Following intense negotiations at all levels on the proposed deal with the UK, EU leaders will seek to reach an agreement on Friday.
On the migration and refugee crisis, the European Council looked at the implementation of the decisions already taken and adopted conclusions to prepare the ground for its next meeting in March. Discussions focused on humanitarian assistance, the implementation of the EU-Turkey Action Plan, external border management, and the operation of hotspots.
Initial conclusions on migration were delivered on Thursday evening, recalling that the “objective must be to rapidly stem the flows, protect our external borders, reduce illegal migration and safeguard the integrity of the Schengen area”. After “assessing the state of implementation of the positions agreed in December”, the European Council welcomed NATO’s decision to assist in the conducting of reconnaissance, monitoring and surveillance” and called for a “full and speedy implementation of the EU-Turkey Action Plan” which “remains a priority”.
The European Council also “called on the Commission, the High Representative and the Member States to monitor and address any factors that may prompt migration flows”.
The High Representative Federica Mogherini commented on the situation in Syria and Libya, upon her arrival at the European Council meeting on the evening of Thursday 18 February 2016. Click here to read her remarks in full. Or watch the video.
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Libya
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Syria *
