European Council in Brussels

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and the EU Heads of State and Government met in Brussels for the European Council hosted by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. The EU and its member states are intensifying their efforts to establish an effective, humanitarian and safe European migration policy. EU leaders agreed on the political direction and priorities for the next steps: cooperation with countries of origin and transit to stem migration flows, EU leaders welcomed the agreement on a joint EU/Turkey action plan and agreed to achieve specific operational measures – strengthening the EU’s external borders with an integrated border management system that will go beyond Frontex’s mandate and adding hundreds of additional border guards to secure hotspot areas in Greece and Italy – the issue of return and readmission.
The European Council also discussed political and military developments in Syria, including their impact on migration. It reiterated its support for a political solution to the conflict in close cooperation with the United Nations and countries in the region. EU leaders were also briefed on the current situation and next steps regarding the United Kingdom’s referendum (in/out). Finally, they took stock of discussions on the Presidents’ report on completing the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).