EU: European Council: "roadmap" implementation paper highlights migration, internal security, military efforts
18 October 2017
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European Council: "roadmap" implementation paper highlights migration, internal security, military efforts
18.10.17
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"The Bratislava Roadmap emerged from the Leaders' debate in September 2016. In March 2017, the Rome Declaration broadened the scope and set additional priorities for the longer term.
One year on, the EU has made significant progress and can demonstrate tangible results. The Bratislava method is working. The attached table shows that many tasks have been completed, and many others are on track. Some tasks however have progressed slower than expected, and a few require a fresh push, including at the highest level."
See: The Bratislava Roadmap - One Year On (pdf) covering migration and external borders; internal security; external security and defence; economic and social development, youth.
The report highlights not only political efforts (such as agreement on the potential Entry/Exit System and the forthcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System) but billions of euros in funding (to Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and Italy) and the deployment of border guards and asylum officers to Member States with external borders: Greece (905 Frontex officials, 127 from the European Asylum Support Office or EASO); Bulgaria (212 Frontex officers); Italy (393 Frontex officers, 62 EASO); Spain (147 Frontex officers).
A letter (pdf) from European Council president Donald Tusk to EU heads of state and government highlights as the number one obstacle to making progress on agreed priorities as getting "lost somewhere between... collaborators or in the decision-making system". Others might consider those decision-making systems as an essential part of parliamentary democracies. Tusk does go on to say:
"several of you have rightly highlighted the need to ensure that decisions among us are firmly anchored in your respective national political settings. Each of you are used to getting involved with your national parliaments and reaching out to the public at large, in accordance with your specific constitutional traditions and political circumstances. We will not change that."
See also: European Council draft Conclusions on migration (Statewatch News Online, 11 October 2017) also including security and defence, digital strategy.
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