Es] Ref. Ares(2023)1028224 - 13/02/2023

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
SECRETARITAT-GENERAIL.

Be Directorate B - Decision-making & Collegiality
SG.B.3 - Interinstitutional Relations Group (GRI) Secretariat

S1(2022) 436

Brussels, 20 November 2022
GRI of 18 November 2022
Item 4.1.1.
NOTE FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GRI

Subject: (new item) 'Plan/ roadmap on the situation in the Central Mediterranean’
[Coreper on 23 November 2022: decision on the next steps]

Please find attached a note prepared by DG HOME under the authority of the Cabinet
of Commissioner JOHANSSON and in agreement with the Cabinet
of Vice-President SCHINAS.

Attachments: 2

GRI MEETING OF 18 NOVEMBER 2022

NOTE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GRI

Subject: EU ACTION PLAN FOR THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN
Ref.: Coreper II. Justice and Home Affairs Council

 

This note informs the Commission about the EU Action Plan for the Central
Mediterranean that the Commission will present to the Council in view of the
Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council that will take place on the 25
November 2022. The Action Plan responds to the current urgent migratory challenges
in the Central Mediterranean through 20 concrete actions and initiatives to be taken
forward by the EU and Member States. The Action Plan also reiterates the importance
of adopting the New Pact on Migration and Asylum to put in place long term
sustainable and structural European solutions to migratory flows.

 

 

1. BACKGROUND

The arrivals via sea along the Central Mediterranean route of migration have significantly
increased in 2022, reaching over 90,000 migrants who have arrived irregularly, particularly in
Italy representing an increase of over 50% with respect to 2021. Arrivals following search and
rescue events represented more than half of the total (over 49,000).

On 16 November, at COREPER the Commission acknowledged the strong migratory pressure
along the Mediterranean route and specifically the Central Mediterranean and agreed on the
need for urgent action. The Action Plan aims at addressing the immediate and ongoing
challenges along the Central Mediterranean route. The Czech Presidency confirmed that an
extraordinary Justice and Home affairs Council will take place on 25 November 2022 to
discuss migratory challenges including on the Central Mediterranean route and agree on
common concrete actions.

The European Parliament is scheduled to debate the search and rescue topic at the November
I Plenary session.

2. MAIN CONTENT OF THE NON-PAPER

The Action Plan responds to the current urgent migratory challenges in the Central
Mediterranean through 20 concrete actions that can be launched in the short term, while the
Pact on Migration and Asylum remains the comprehensive framework for structural solutions
and ensure the balance between solidarity and responsibility.

The Action Plan sets out 20 actions along three axes, namely:

I. Strengthened cooperation with partner countries and international
organisations;
H. A more coordinated approach on search and rescue;
IM. Reinforced implementation of the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism and the
Joint Roadmap.

The Action Plan stresses that the EU and the Member States will need to work jointly to
ensure its effective implementation. The Action Plan finally recalls that the EU remains
vigilant about the developments on the other key migratory routes to Europe and that this
Action Plan may act as a model to develop similar plans addressing the specificities of other
migratory routes.

3. RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION

It is suggested that the GRI recommend that the Commission endorse the position set out
in this note and take note that the Action Plan will be transmitted to the Presidency
of the Council of the European Union as a contribution to the Justice and Home Affairs
Council of 25 November 2022.

4. ANNEX
EU Action Plan for the Central Mediterranean.

5.  OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE