Informal videoconference of the members of Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) 15–16 July 2020 (Berlin) AIDE MEMOIRE 15 JULY, 2020 Welcome: Welcome MS, COMIX countries and EASO to the informal videoconference. Short introduction of presidency priorities. 1 1.   Current Asylum Situation (10.00-11.30) –     Presentation by EASO =     Exchange of views Objective      To provide information to Member States on the current asylum situation in the EU, in particular the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper circulated to delegations in advance will serve as a basis for EASO presentation.      In the ensuing debate, delegations could develop on their individual situation and highlight whether there are any positive consequences of the pandemic which could lead to more efficient procedures. Handling      No particular difficulties foreseen.      Brief introduction by the Presidency.      Give the floor to EASO. Apart from the document circulated in advance, there have been other recent papers by EASO that describe the EU asylum situation, such as EASO Analytical Brief for the informal meeting of the Ministers of Home Affairs, Bulletin (No.16) on COVID-19 emergency measures in asylum and reception" of 1 July 2020, as well as the EASO Annual Report.      After the presentation, the Commission may wish to comment.      The floor can then go to Member States. 1    Exceptionally, in the presence of the Schengen Associated States 1

Speaking points      Dear colleagues, the " Current Asylum Situation" is our first point on the agenda.      We would like to listen to EASO and discuss with you how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our asylum system during the last six months. We are all aware of the dramatic decrease in the number of asylum applications but there has also been an increase in the number of decisions issued by some Member States because the situation allowed them to make more headway with handling pending asylum cases. We are also interested in hearing how and to which extent the situation is getting back to what we used to call 'normal'. And not less importantly, we will hear about the outlook for the situation in the post COVID- 19 world.      You have all received a paper prepared by EASO. I will shortly give the EASO colleague the floor to present it, following which I will invite the Commission representative and delegations to comment. There will only be one round of comments for each of the topics discussed. I would like to ask all speakers to be as concise and precise as possible.      Dear Lutin Ward, you have the floor. [floor to EASO]      Thank you very much for this constructive presentation and of course, for the work that you continue to deliver under the current circumstances. I will now invite the Commission to share its views. [floor to the Commission]      Thank you very much for your comments. I will now give the floor to delegations to share their views. I would like to invite you to mention in your interventions whether you consider that the implementation of the emergency solutions could have a positive impact on the national asylum and reception systems on a more permanent basis. For example on making some parts of the asylum procedures more efficient also under normal circumstances, such as registration or remote interviewing. [floor to delegations] 2

Possible conclusions      Thank you very much for all your input.      The Presidency took very good note of the views shared today, including on the potential that the emergency solutions implemented by Member States could have on the increased efficiency of the asylum procedures on a more permanent basis.      We may get back to this topic later during our Presidency, and certainly also following the presentation of the Pact on migration and asylum when we will resume our discussions on the reform of the Common European Asylum System. 2.   COVID-19: Its impact on immigration, asylum and return and the path back to 2 normality (11.30-13.00) –     Presentation by the Presidency =      Exchange of views (doc. 9321/20) Objective      Take stock of ongoing coordination, especially regarding the path back to normality, and to explore areas where further coordination would be necessary or welcome.      Identify how to modernise procedures and expand digitalisation in order to make processes more resilient, flexible and sustainable. Handling      Presentation by the Presidency; The Presidency will present the discussion paper (9321/20)      Give the floor to the Commission and the EEAS.      Invite delegations and EASO to share their views. Speaking points      Dear colleagues, 'COVID-19: Its impact on immigration, asylum and return and the path back to normality' is our second point on the agenda today. Our discussion paper outlines the main effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on 2    Exceptionally, in the presence of the Schengen Associated States 3

the established procedures for immigration, asylum and return: the issuing of visas, processing of asylum claims/applications, Dublin transfers, resettlement, family reunification, readmission and voluntary and assisted return.      We would like to assess what lessons we have learnt in order to improve our procedures and make them more resilient to the kind of situation we are going through.      In our discussion paper, we also ask you in which fora you think such discussions should take place?      In addition, are there more areas or aspects we should consider when aiming for a coordinated exit strategy?      Finally, we ask for your ideas as to other areas in the fields of migration and return that are affected by COVID-19, and if you would like to have an exchange of views or further coordination in these areas?      With that in mind, I would like to give the floor to the Commission for its views on the issue. Michael, you have the floor. [floor to COM]      Thank you very much Michael. I will now invite the EEAS to share its views. [floor to EEAS]      Thank you. I will now turn to you all and invite you to share your views, by focusing in particular on the questions raised in the discussion paper. Given the time constraints, I would like to ask you to be as concise and precise as possible. [floor to EASO and delegations] Possible conclusions      Thank you very much for all your input on these important aspects.  4

    The Presidency took very good note of the views shared today. I found particularly important [the broad agreement on the importance to use the lessons we have learned and incorporate them, where appropriate, when we discuss the Migration and Asylum Pact after the summer break.]      In particular, I take note of the following very constructive ideas/suggestions: [that we discuss lessons learned in more detail in the competent working parties and if there is a follow up to do. We could think of asking every working party to do a short inventory of lessons learned . We then return to the issue in SCIFA later in the semester..]  End of the first day - Thank you 16 JULY, 2020 Welcome: Welcome MS, EASO, FRONTEX, eu-LISA to the informal videoconference. 3.   Impact of Digitalisation on Migration Management (10:00 - 11:30) –    Presentation by the Presidency –    Presentation by GMDAC (IOM Global Migration Data Analysis Centre) =      Exchange of views (doc. 9322/20) Objective     Discussion on how to improve the knowledge on the impact of digital transformation on the migration space and corresponding (digital) governmental processes and policies, focusing on some key challenges and current and planned actions as well as digital tools, and determining whether a closer cooperation at European level is needed;     The Presidency wishes to continue discussions on Migration Forecasting, which could serve as a tool or method for prediction of future migration flows, 5

improving at the same time the resilience of migration management and asylum systems;     The Presidency will also present the dialogue on the digital transformation of migration management "Migration 4.0", which aims to bring together migration and digitalisation experts as well as stakeholders from EU member states and non- European partners. Handling      No difficulties foreseen.      The Presidency will present the discussion paper (9322/20) "Impact of Digitalisation on Migration Management".      Welcome GMDAC - IOM Global Migration Data Analysis Centre - Mr. XXXXXX in the informal videoconferencing room; Presentation by the GMDAC - IOM Global Migration Data Analysis Centre      Give the floor to the Commission.      Invite delegations to share their views by answering the requests raised in the Presidency paper. Speaking points      Dear colleagues, we will open today's session with the third point on the agenda, which is the "Impact of Digitalisation on Migration Management". Migration forecasting has already been discussed in the past, and the Presidency feels it is a good moment to discuss different perspectives as well as different tools and methods used by Member States when analysing migration flows.      As you all know, the main added value of the digital transformation is that it could lead to better forecasting of future migration movement, which in turn could 6

help us to create more resilient migration management and asylum systems, and to react faster to new challenges in this realm as well as to remove some of the detected weaknesses.  Digital tools already play an increasingly important role in the area of asylum and reception systems with online registration of asylum claims, remote interviewing, data sharing being some of their possible uses. Regardless of the need to rely on such tools in today's crisis situation provoked by the Covid-19 pandemic, these tools can help us facilitate and speed up procedures for asylum and return in the future as well. Therefore, it is necessary to develop them even further and make them interoperable.  It is a wish of this Presidency to bring together migration and digitalisation experts, as well as stakeholders from EU Member States and other, non-European countries, together to discuss a possible way forward regarding digital transformation and the way new applications can be used for forecasting mixed population movements and for migration management.  In this respect, it will be interesting to hear and learn what different digital tools and strategies Member States use and to see what synergies can be created at European level in the long run.  First, I would like to give the floor to the IOM representative, Mr XXXX, and then to the Commission representative. Given the time constraints, I would like to ask all speakers to be as concise and precise as possible.  Dear XXXXX, you have the floor. [floor to IOM]  Thank you very much for this constructive and insightful presentation and, of course, for the tremendous work that you have been doing. You gave us a lot of food for thought and we take note of everything that you have presented.  Before you leave the meeting, are there any questions from Member States to IOM? 7

[floor to delegations] [allow IOM to leave the informal videoconference room] I will now invite the Commission, Michael, to take the floor. [floor to the Commission]      Dear Michael, thank you very much for your intervention and very interesting comments.      I will now invite the delegations to share their views, by focusing on the questions posed in the discussion paper, namely: 1)     The digital tools and methods in migration management they use; 2)     The areas that need to be improved or which ask for closer cooperation at European level; and 3)    Added value of a common European migration forecasting project. [floor to delegations] Possible conclusions      Thank you very much for all your input on this topic that will continue to be very important in the years to come.      The Presidency took very good note of the views shared today, which could contribute to the development of common European data and evidence-driven migration preparedness mechanism, enabling us to better forecast and manage mixed population movements.      In particular, I would like to underline the following very constructive ideas/suggestions: It is advisable to look ahead and focus on forecasting since migration movements are changing and we can soon face unprecedented patterns of people arriving to our borders. 8

New (digital) technologies can prove of great value in building stronger and more resilient systems for migration management and asylum. The Presidency will continue this reflection among experts at the 'kick-start' conference on 22 July. [allow eu - LISA to leave the informal videoconference room] 4.   Way forward: Strengthening migration management capacities in the Western Balkan region (11:30-13.00) –     Presentation by the Presidency =      Exchange of views (doc. 9324/20) Objective      To move forward the discussions undertaken during the Croatian Presidency, giving a concrete follow up to the results of the questionnaire presented at last SCIFA meeting;      To discuss ways to strengthen migration capacities in the Western Balkan region, given the importance of the region as key transit area for irregular migrants entering the EU. Handling      Presentation by the Presidency;      Give the floor to the Commission and the EEAS;      Invite delegations and agencies to share their views by answering the questions raised in the discussion paper (9324/20). Speaking points      Dear colleagues, we come now to the last point of our two-day meeting: "Way forward: strengthening migration management capacities in the Western Balkan region". As you remember, at the joint HLWG/SCIFA in February and at the virtual SCIFA meeting in May we had discussions on this topic, reaching the conclusion that the cooperation with our partners in the region must be comprehensive and well coordinated. It was stressed unanimously that the 9

synergies of all EU and Member States’ actions in the Western Balkan region should be enhanced.  In order to give momentum to our strategic plans to strengthen migration capacities in the region, the Croatian Presidency undertook a comprehensive mapping of Member States’ non-EU-funded cooperation and activities in the area of migration management in the Western Balkans. We thank the Croatian Presidency for its work and all Member States that contributed to this effort.  The German Presidency wants to bring forward the work on these topics. The results of the analysis showed that few resources are allocated for enhancing asylum and reception capacities for the partners or increasing capacities for return, while the majority of the support is directed towards the field of border management and combating the smuggling of migrants. Furthermore, support is not distributed equally among the Western Balkan partners.  The German presidency believes that further tangible progress is needed and, to quickly advance at operational level, we propose that each Western Balkan partner conducts a needs analysis, supported by the Commission and Agencies, as well as the EU Delegations and the Member States already involved locally. Based on this analysis, support measures could be better coordinated and implemented. In this perspective, our aim is to discuss the type and scope of a roadmap in order to concretely go forward at an operational level.  With that in mind, I would like to give the floor to the Commission for its views on the issue. Michael, you have the floor. [floor to COM]  Thank you very much Michael. I will now invite the EEAS to share its views. [floor to EEAS]  10