Justice and Home Affairs Council, 21/04/2016, 21 April 2016

Main results

Home Affairs

Security

It is vital to share our information so we can enable real time analysis and cross-border operations to prevent terrorism, illegal migration and cross-border crime” Ard Van Der Steur, Minister for Security and Justice of the Netherlands

The Council discussed the aftermath of the Brussels attacks, following up on the meeting of 24 March 2016. Ministers focused their debate on the use and interoperability of databases and the recent Commission proposals on the smart borders package.

Ministers discussed actions for improving information exchange and agreed to work towards an agreement on the requirements for an integrated European information architecture, including interoperability in the Justice and Home Affairs domain, covering migration, security/counter-terrorism and borders. This agreement will include a roadmap with short, medium and long-term actions, which will be presented during the Justice and Home Affairs Council in June 2016.

Ard Van Der Steur, Minister for Security and Justice of the Netherlands and President of the Council said: "It is vital to share our information so we can enable real time analysis and cross-border operations to prevent terrorism, illegal migration and cross-border crime.”

• Response to foreign terrorist fighters and recent terrorist attacks in Europe (background information)

Migration

Home affairs ministers examined progress in implementing  the measures that need to be taken to rapidly reduce the negative humanitarian consequences of the current migratory situation, protect EU external borders, stem the flows, reduce illegal migration and safeguard the integrity of the Schengen area.

Today we also had our first explorative discussion about the future of the European asylum system. We all agree that the current system does not function and that we need a better system. The status quo cannot stay. Our system needs to progress from a fair weather system to a system that can deal with a sudden high influx. This system should also result in a substantially lower influx than we've recently seen Klaas Dijkhoff, Minister for Migration of the Netherlands

They reaffirmed the need to speed up the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement of 18 March and in particular the resettlement of Syrian refugees from Turkey in the framework of the 1:1 scheme. Member states were also invited  to accelerate the relocation of asylum seekers from Greece and Italy, according to the Council decisions of September 2015.

Furthermore, they agreed to continue to monitor closely  the possible opening up of new migratory routes, especially the Central Mediterranean, in order to avoid a major crisis.

Klaas Dijkhoff, Minister for Migration of the Netherlands and President of the Council said: "Today we also had our first explorative discussion about the future of the European asylum system. We all agree that the current system does not function and that we need a better system. The status quo cannot stay. Our system needs to progress from a fair weather system to a system that can deal with a sudden high influx. This system should also result in a substantially lower influx than we've recently seen."

Ministers were informed about the progress achieved on the draft regulation on a European Border Guard and stressed the need to begin preparations on the implementation of a number of  priority elements, without prejudice to the forthcoming negotiations with the European Parliament.

• Finding solutions to migratory pressures (background information)
• Strengthening the EU's external borders

 Other issues

The Council adopted, without discussion, a directive on the EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) and a directive strengthening the rights of children in criminal proceedings.

• Council adopts EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive
• EU strengthens rights of children in criminal proceedings