Informal videoconference of the members of Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) 22 September 2020 (Berlin, 10.00 - 13.00) AIDE MEMOIRE Welcome MS, COMIX countries and EASO, FRONTEX and EUROPOL to the informal videoconference. Mention plans for next meeting, i.e. 13 October. 1.   Western Balkans Initiative - "Operational Platform Eastern Mediterranean 1 Route" (10.00 - 11.30) –     Presentation by the Presidency =     Exchange of views (doc. 10742/20) Objective    To move forward the discussions undertaken during the Croatian Presidency and at the SCIFA meeting in July on strengthening migration capacities in the Western Balkan region;    To assess what/how much support Member States are willing to give to the "Operational Platform Eastern Mediterranean Route";    To agree on a common coordinated approach towards Bosnia and Herzegovina. Handling      Presentation by the Presidency;      Give the floor to Austria, the Commission and the EEAS;      Invite delegations and agencies to share their views on the discussion paper (10742/20). Speaking points      Dear colleagues, we come now to the first point of our agenda today: Western Balkans Initiative – Operational Platform Eastern Mediterranean Route. As you remember, at the virtual SCIFA meeting in July we reached a broad agreement on 1    Exceptionally, in the presence of the Schengen Associated States 1

the necessity of a structured needs assessment and joint coordination of tailor- made support measures for each Western Balkan partner.  The migratory situation in the Western Balkans continue to deserve our full attention. Pressure at borders in the region increased by 100% compared to last year. The German Presidency is committed to keep up the momentum to our strategic plans to strengthen migration capacities in the region.  In this perspective, we welcome the conclusions of the Ministerial conference held in Vienna on 22-23 July to establish an Operational Platform Eastern Mediterranean Route to promote better coordination of measures against irregular migration in the Western Balkans.  We believe that this Operational Platform should focus on a better coordination of measures among Member States and partners, in order to ensure the most coherent use of resources in the field of border management, return and readmission, fighting human smuggling as well as asylum. A concept for the establishment of the Operational Platform, including its working methods and possible structure, is currently being developed at expert level.  We would like today to hear your views on the setting up of the Operational Platform. How can Member States provide concrete support to the initiative?  Also, we would like to assess the very difficult situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where some 6 000 migrants are present in reception centres and another 3 500 remain outside, in particular in the Una Sana Canton. We would like to propose to put an operational focus on coordinated support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the short term. This could be an impetus for further support activities under the umbrella of the Operational Platform. Should other Member States wish to make a concrete contribution, an initial coordination in the context of the Operational Platform could take place.     With that in mind, I would like to give the floor to Austria, the initiator of the establishment of the platform. 2

[floor to AT]    I will now turn to the Commission for its views on the issue, Johannes, you have the floor. [floor to COM]       Thank you very much Johannes. I will now invite the EEAS to take the floor. [floor to EEAS]        Thank you. I will now turn to delegations, as well as the agencies, and invite them to share their views. [floor to delegations] Possible conclusions       Thank you very much for all your input on this important topic.        The Presidency took very good note of the views shared today, which once again confirmed the importance of our support to the Western Balkans partners. We welcome the broad support to the establishment of the Operational Platform Eastern Mediterranean Route to promote better coordination of measures against irregular migration. We also take note of the ideas on a common coordinated approach towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.        In particular, I take note of the following very constructive suggestions: […].        The German Presidency will continue to devote much attention to the capacities of the Western Balkan partners to manage migration flows. _______________________ 3

2.   Migration Cooperation with African Partners: Operationalising anti-smuggling and border management cooperation with African Partners of 13 July 2020            1 (11.30 - 13.00) –     Presentation by the Presidency =      Exchange of views 10743/20 Objective      To provide information to Member States on the state of play of the initiative by Italy to form a cooperation forum with North African partners, and the way forward.      In the ensuing debate, delegations could develop on their ideas on how to increase support to/cooperation with North African partners. Handling      No particular difficulties foreseen.      Presentation by the Presidency.      Give the floor to the Commission and Italy.      The floor may then go to Member States and agencies. Speaking points      Dear colleagues, our second item on the agenda is the follow-up to the conference initiated by Italy that took place on 13 July in the wake of increased arrivals from Tunisia and Libya.      All participants reaffirmed that the fight against migrant smuggling is a common priority and envisaged to further intensify their engagement at all levels between North African and European Partners. There was a shared understanding that the conference on July 13 presents the political kick-off event with further activities to follow-up.      The German Presidency is very committed to moving this initiative forward in an effort to use the current momentum to further strengthen a coordinated and more 4

structured cooperation between us and our five partners in North Africa, at an operational level. Our joint approach should cover all areas of migration, but in a first round the areas of anti-migrant smuggling and border management will be the focus of our attention.      In order to be able to support the African partners, it was agreed to invite all Member States to inform of ongoing activities in these areas, to ask the Commission to map both bilateral and regional cooperation and available funds, and in close collaboration with the African partners develop an assessment of needs. Identified gaps should then be the basis for further activities.      We have in this process received feedback from some of you, also positive signals that you are willing to take part in the work ahead. I thank you for this and invite also other Member States to join in at any given moment.       I will now invite the Commission to share its views and explain in more detail how this process will be taken forward. [floor to the Commission]      Thank you very much for your comments. I will now give the floor to Italy to share their views. [floor to Italy]        I would like to hand the floor to delegations and also to the agencies with us today. In the discussion paper we have set out three questions so I would be grateful if you also respond to these in your intervention. [floor to delegations and agencies] Possible conclusions      Thank you very much for all your input.      The Presidency took very good note of the views shared today, including that you agree with this type and scope of exercise.      I have noted the importance you attach to the collaboration between all actors on the ground, at both political and technical level. It is indeed the operational activities that we would like to see evolving so it is highly relevant to have close coordination on the ground among the EU actors: delegation, embassies, liaison officers etc. 5

    We also take note that there is agreement to let the Commission go ahead with planning the first video-conference with Tunisia to identify needs and discuss ad hoc measures. This may serve as a model for the further process.     [We are grateful for the proposals you have mentioned in relation to projects to counter migrant smuggling and enhance border management in the five countries of interest. We will keep them for the conferences we intend to organise with all the partners.]     We believe that SCIFA should stay involved in the process so we will keep it on the agenda for the meetings to come later on the semester. 3. Any other business Thank you! _______________________ 6