Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2017-18
UPN Alm.del Bilag 6
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Implementing the Bratislava Roadmap
October 2017
The Bratislava Roadmap - One Year On
Real solutions to real problems
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.
 UPN, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 6: Hyrdebrev forud for mødet i Det Europæiske Råd den 19.-20. oktober 2017
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The Bratislava Roadmap - One Year On
= done
= on track
= efforts still needed
= insufficient
THE BRATISLAVA ROADMAP
MEASURES TAKEN AND RESULTS ACHIEVED
STATUS
MIGRATION AND EXTERNAL BORDERS
In Bratislava, Leaders agreed to:
-
never allow return to uncontrolled flows of
last year and further bring down number of
irregular migrants
ensure full control of our external borders
and get back to Schengen
The numbers of irregular migrants have been cut dramatically - by the end of 2016
arrivals were 72% lower than 2015, and numbers continue to decline in 2017.
-
The EU and its Member States have undertaken great efforts to ensure full control of the
external borders. The European Border and Coast Guard is now fully operational. The
Entry/Exit system is under way, ETIAS is under negotiation, and systematic border checks
for all persons, including EU nationals, are in place. More work is needed to get fully
back to Schengen.
Much progress has been made on the future of the asylum system, but work on the
application of the principles of responsibility and solidarity is still ongoing.
-
broaden EU consensus on long term
migration policy and apply the principles of
responsibility and solidarity
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
The Leaders set out a number of specific measures:
EU-Turkey statement
o
o
o
The statement holds, irregular arrivals to Greece remain low.
Returns from Greece to Turkey however need to be increased.
As of October 2017, 49 projects under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey have
been contracted worth around EUR 1.67 billion, out of which EUR 883 million
has been disbursed. Contracting will reach EUR 3 billion by the end of 2017.
According to current project planning, disbursements will reach EUR 1 billion
in November and EUR 1.6 billion in December.
Over 10 000 refugees have been resettled from Turkey.
a) full commitment to implementing the EU-
Turkey statement as well as continued
support to the countries of the Western Balkans
o
Western Balkans
o
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCGA) has deployed officers
in the Western Balkans and the Commission is working on border cooperation
agreements with Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, which would allow the deployment
of European Border and Coast teams with executive powers in the territory of
these countries.
The EU has been using all possible tools to help the Western Balkans cope with
the refugee crisis. Since the steep increase of arrivals in summer 2015, this
assistance has amounted to over EUR 100 million allocated mainly through
Special Measures (EUR 65 million), Regional programmes (EUR 13 million) and
Humanitarian aid (EUR 29 million). In addition, over EUR 200 million were
mobilised since 2007 through Pre-Accession programmes supporting reforms,
such as migration and border management in the Western Balkans. Support to
Serbia has also been provided through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
o
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
b) commitment today by a number of Member
States to offer immediate assistance to strengthen
the protection of Bulgaria's border with Turkey,
and continue support to other frontline States
Funding via the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security
Fund:
o
o
o
Bulgaria:
EUR 170 million in emergency assistance and EUR 97 million under the
national programmes
Greece:
EUR 371 million in emergency assistance and EUR 537 million under the
national programmes
Italy:
EUR 150 million in emergency assistance, and EUR 634 million under the
national programmes
EBCGA and European Asylum Support Office (EASO) deployment:
o
1032 officers in
Greece
(EBCGA 905, EASO 127)
o
212 in
Bulgaria
(EBCGA)
o
455 in
Italy
(EBCGA 393, EASO 62)
o
147 in
Spain
(EBCGA)
As frontline Member States,
Greece
and
Italy
continue to receive additional support
from the Commission and EU agencies.
C
) before the end of the year, full capacity for rapid
reaction of the European Border and Coast Guard,
now signed into law
d) migration compacts for cooperation and
dialogue with third countries to lead to reduced
flows of illegal migration and increased return
rates, to be assessed by the December European
Council
EBCGA was launched in October 2016. It assists Member States at the external borders
with over 1 700 border guards, although some shortfalls remain. Rapid Reaction Pools of
staff and equipment are in place, to be deployed in case of emergency.
A dialogue is ongoing with Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia under the Partnership
Framework, as well as with other countries in West Africa and Asia, such as Afghanistan
and Bangladesh.
Operational arrangements and/or agreements on returns have been completed with
several countries. Nevertheless, the coverage remains incomplete and returns and
readmissions continue to remain unsatisfactory.
Cooperation with Niger has resulted in a significant reduction of migrants transiting
from that country into Libya.
Enhanced support to these efforts is being provided through CSDP missions and
operations in third countries, particularly in Libya and the Sahel region.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
e) work to be continued to broaden EU consensus
in terms of long term migration policy, including
on how to apply the principles of responsibility
and solidarity in the future
Common European Asylum System reform
The Council and the EP are close to an agreement on the reform of
EASO
with the
exception of the provisions relating to the
Dublin Procedure
Regulation and
Resettlement.
Trilogues between the co-legislators are also ongoing on the
Eurodac
Regulation and the
Qualifications
Regulation. Trilogues are expected to start on
Reception Conditions
Directive and the new
Resettlement
Framework by the end of the year. On the
Asylum
Procedures Regulation work continues at technical level.
The Council has not reached agreement on the
Dublin system,
notably as regards the
principles of responsibility and solidarity, while progress has been made on other
provisions at technical level.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
INTERNAL SECURITY
Work to improve the exchange of information has been a priority over the last year. In
December 2016 the Commission presented a proposal to strengthen the Schengen
Information System (SIS).
a) intensified cooperation and information-
exchange among security services of the Member
States
The reinforcement of Europol's capacities, which, alongside the entry into force of the
new Europol Regulation on 1 May 2017, should further establish the law enforcement
agency as the genuine EU hub for information exchange on serious cross-border crime
and terrorism.
The Commission's proposals on interoperability are expected at the end of 2017.
As a result of an amendment to
the Schengen borders code
adopted in March 2017,
all persons crossing the Union's external borders, including nationals from EU Member
States, are now systematically checked against the relevant databases.
An
Entry/Exit System
will allow a better detection of document and identity fraud. A
provisional agreement was reached with the European Parliament and should be
confirmed in Plenary in October.
b) adoption of the necessary measures to ensure
that all persons, including nationals from EU
Member States, crossing the Union's external
borders will be checked against the relevant
databases, that must be interconnected
Proposals to extend the existing system on the exchange of criminal records (ECRIS) to
third country nationals and for a stronger mandate for EU-LISA, the agency for
operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and
justice are under active negotiation. An agreement between Member States on the
latter is expected by the end of 2017.
In June 2017 the High Level Expert Group on
information systems and interoperability
made a comprehensive set of recommendations. The Commission was subsequently
invited by the June European Council to put forward proposals based on the work of
the High Level Expert Group. These proposals are near completion.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
c) start to set up a Travel Information and
Authorisation System (ETIAS) to allow for advance
checks and, if necessary, deny entry of visa-
exempt travellers
d) a systematic effort against radicalisation,
including through expulsions and entry bans where
warranted as well as EU support to Member
States' actions in prevention
The Council reached a general approach on
ETIAS
in June 2017. Trilogues will start as soon
as the EP mandate is confirmed. The European Council's guidance is to conclude by the
end of 2017.
Various initiatives are in place at EU level and a High Level Expert Group on
radicalisation
has been put in place to coordinate them. The first results of its work are expected by the
end of 2017.
Online radicalisation: in June 2017 the European Council called on industry to improve
the automatic detection and removal of content that incites terrorist acts.
In September 2017, the Commission issued guidelines to encourage online platforms
to be more active in tackling illegal content online.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
EXTERNAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE
a) December European Council to decide on a
concrete implementation plan on security and
defence and on how to make better use of the
options in the Treaties, especially as regards
capabilities
European cooperation on Defence has advanced significantly in a number of areas:
The European Council agreed on the need to launch an inclusive and ambitious
Permanent Structured Cooperation
in the area of defence by December 2017.
The military planning and conduct capability (MPCC) has been established, while work
continues on the review of civilian priorities, civilian and military rapid reaction,
including on common costs for the deployment of EU Battlegroups, and on enhancing
intelligence and situational awareness.
Work on the implementation of the
European Defence Action Plan
is ongoing:
o
The implementation of the
European Defence Fund
is underway in order to
support collaborative research in defence and joint development and acquisition.
A Preparatory Action on defence research has been launched, and the proposal for
a
European Defence Industrial Development Programme
to support development
efforts is currently being discussed by both the Parliament and the Council.
o
Work on the implementation of the other strands of the
European Defence Action
Plan
is also ongoing. Additionally,
EIB funding
is being mobilised to support
investments in dual use technology and (cyber)security .
b) start implementing the joint declaration with
NATO immediately
EU-NATO cooperation is advancing on the basis of a list of 42 specific actions related to
hybrid threats, cybersecurity, maritime coordination, strategic communication,
capabilities, exercises and partners' capacity-building. Reports on the progress achieved
and a number of potential additional actions will be presented in December 2017.
The first parallel and coordinated exercise between NATO and the EU in response to a
hybrid scenario took place in late September and early October.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
,
YOUTH
a) in December: decision on extension of the
European Fund for Strategic Investment in light of
evaluation
b) Spring 2017 European Council: review progress
as regards delivering on the different Single
Market strategies (including Digital Single Market,
Capital Markets Union, Energy Union)
EFSI has triggered EUR 225 billion in investment and supported over 300 000 jobs.
Provisional agreement on its extension was reached between the co-legislators in
September 2017.
The Spring 2017 European Council reviewed progress on all single market strategies, and
since then has regularly reverted to the issue.
On the
Digital Single Market,
the co-legislators have reached a deal on the release of
the
700 MHz band
- critical for the future of wireless connectivity, especially the roll-
out of 5G.
Roaming
surcharges for EU citizens also ended by the agreed date of 15
June 2017.
Cross-border portability
is now ensured, making it easier for European
citizens to access their films, e-books and other subscribed online content when they
travel abroad. By implementing the
Marrakesh Treaty,
the EU has also improved
access to published works for people who are blind or visually impaired. And the
newly-adopted
wifi4EU initiative
seeks to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots in local
communities across the EU.
The European Council in June 2017 broadened the DSM strategy to "Digital
Europe"
which seeks to fully capture the variety of issues that need to be addressed in our
digital transformation. In September 2017, Leaders held an informal meeting in
Tallinn
dedicated to Digital Europe,
giving new impetus to work in this area.
Despite many achievements, a number of complex and important files are still being
negotiated and will require careful attention if the 2018 deadline is to be respected
(for instance on geo-blocking, on contract law reform, on copyright and on e-Privacy).
An additional Telecommunications Council will be held on 24 October to accelerate
progress. In addition, the Commission's very recent proposals (for instance on the free
flow of non-personal data and on cybersecurity) will require sustained work in order to
advance swiftly.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
In relation to the
Capital Markets Union,
the EU adopted a number of essential
elements for its completion including the
Prospectus
Regulation, which protects
investors while improving access to debt capital markets across the EU; rules on
securitisation,
which aim to free up capital for economic growth through a simple,
transparent and standardised securitisation market, and revamped rules on
European
Venture Capital Funds and European Social Entrepreneurship Funds,
as part of efforts
to stimulate venture capital investments in the EU and improve access to finance for
small and growing companies and social enterprises.
In addition, in June 2017 the Commission adopted the mid-term review of the Capital
Markets Union and identified new initiatives to drive forward the objectives of the
Capital Markets Union, including the Review of the European Supervisory Authorities,
adopted in September 2017.
The EU has also advanced in its ambition to build an
Energy Union.
Most significantly,
it has ratified the Paris Climate Agreement. It has also reinforced the
security of its gas
supply,
also thanks to the Decision on inter-governmental agreements. This will enable
the Union to deal more quickly and efficiently with any gas supply crises.
Measures to increase energy efficiency are expected to be agreed with the EP in early
2018, while the other elements in the clean energy package should be in place before
next summer.
Negotiations on the review of the
emissions trading system
(ETS) are in their final
stages; trilogues are starting on
LULUCF
and are to due to start on
effort-sharing.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
c) October European Council to address how to
ensure a robust trade policy that reaps the
benefits of open markets while taking into account
concerns of citizens
The EU has agreed on a new
antidumping
methodology in order to fight dumping in
important sectors, including steel. In parallel, work is on-going on modernising the
EU's trade defence instruments.
In September 2017 the Commission proposed a Regulation to screen Foreign Direct
Investment that would threaten security and public order in the EU.
While the EU's ambition to agree on TTIP has not been realised, after considerable
efforts to accommodate a variety of concerns, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade
Agreement (CETA) with Canada was adopted and is being provisionally applied since
21 September 2017.
Trade talks have been concluded with
Vietnam;
an agreement in principle has been
reached with
Japan,
and talks are moving forward with
Mercosur.
Trade talks with
Mexico
are also picking up pace, and negotiations on trade and investment
agreements continue with a number of partners. The EU should soon be opening
negotiations for the establishment of a
Multilateral Investment Court
and for FTAs
with
New Zealand
and
Australia.
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The Bratislava Roadmap one year on
d) in December - decisions on EU support for
Member States in fighting youth unemployment
and on enhanced EU programmes dedicated to
youth
In December 2016 the European Council called for the
Youth Guarantee
to continue;
welcomed the increased support for the
Youth Employment Initiative
and called for
work to be taken forward on initiatives relating to youth mobility, education, skills
development and the
European Solidarity Corps.
In the framework of the MFF mid-term review, the co-legislators added another
EUR 1.2 billion to the Youth Employment Initiative, which was matched by
EUR 1.2 billion from the European Social Fund.
The co-legislators are currently reviewing the proposal for a Regulation on the
European Solidarity Corps.
Work is ongoing in the Council to adopt Recommendations on:
o
the tracking of graduates to improve
long-term knowledge
of their career paths;
o
a European Framework for
Quality and Effective Apprenticeships
to establish
clear criteria for quality apprenticeships and raise the attractiveness of vocational
education and training.
The Commission adopted in December 2016 a package on
Investing in Youth
followed
in May 2017 by two Communications on the modernisation of Higher education and
on improving and modernising school education and supporting continued national
reforms of education and training systems.
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