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EU:Justice and Home Affairs Council 8-9 June 2018

06 March 2018

EU  
Justice and Home Affairs Council 8-9 March 2018
6.3.18
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UPDATE 11.3.18:

- Final press release (pdf)
- B Points Agenda (discussed, pdf)
- A Points Agenda (adopted without discussion, pdf)

Background Note (pdf):

Includes: Interoperability between EU information systems: a) Interoperability Regulation (borders and visa) b) Interoperability Regulation (police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration) = Policy debate (EU doc no: 6396-18, pdf): Includes some new plans:

"A number of other longer-term recommendations

- systematic recording of border crossings of all EU citizens (...)

- centralised mechanism for advance passenger information (API), including the need for a centralised router, as well as its possible use for passenger name records (PNR)." [emphasis added]

And should biometric data from national database (available through the PRUM system be included on the planned Biometric Matching Service (BMS)?

The "possible use" of passenger name records (PNR) for inclusion on the planned centralised interoperable database would include not just flights in and out of the EU but also flights to and from all Member States inside the EU and cover millions of EU citizens, See: Council Statement 2016 (7829-ADD-1-16, pdf). The European Parliament opposed the inclusion of intra-EU flights but after its adoption all 28 Member States adopted a statement:

"Article 2 of the PNR Directive allows Member States that so wish to apply it to intra-EU flights on a voluntary basis, upon notice to the Commission to that end.

Considering the current security situation in Europe, Member States declare that by the date of transposition provided for in Article 18 they will make full use of the possibility provided for by Article 2 under the conditions set by the Directive."

The parliament was simply by-passed.

Also under discussion is:Migration - overview of implementation and way forward (LIMITE doc no: 6283-REV-1-18, pdf): Includes:

"enhancing information collection and data sharing within the EU, between Member States, JHA agencies, and CSDP missions and operations, as well as with international partners; (...)

ensuring the full implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement by continuing the operational dialogue on migration with the Turkish authorities, especially on returns and information-sharing, as well as increasing the pace of returns to Turkey, including through the effective application of the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement and bilateral readmission obligations with its neighbours; (...)

enhancing the efforts to negotiate and conclude readmission agreements and operational arrangements with partner countries;

- adopting a tailor-made approach, using all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including the identification of appropriate levers and incentives, such as visas,
development and trade, to achieve tangible results in terms of cooperation in the field of return and readmission." [emphasis added]

The latter strategy concerns: The EU goes to war with African “elite”(Statewatch Analysis) and New Council returns and readmission strategy to target African countries (Statewatch News)

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