European leaders in Brussels will discuss strategic decisions proposed by the European Commission to help fight the causes and consequences of massive migration.
According to the President, the uncontrolled and spontaneous migration process must come to an end. Lithuania is ready to help, with goodwill and understanding, the EU countries that have been flooded by refugees. However, the President said, the problem will not be solved by only sharing the refugees inside the EU – it is necessary to reinforce the protection of the EU's external borders, increase the control of refugee flows and take active diplomatic measures to resolve conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Libya.
European leaders will discuss how to tighten external border controls, improve registration capacities and ensure effective return policies for illegal migrants.
The European Commission's proposals on drawing up a list of safe countries to help differentiate war refugees from economic migrants have been also tabled.
According to the President, the refugee crisis is a global problem, not only that of the EU. The entire international community must contribute to resolving it. All countries that have signed the 1951 UN Refugee Convention have taken on a commitment to help people fleeing persecution and threat to their lives.
Therefore, the European Council will also focus on cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency and on providing humanitarian and financial aid to UN refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Among the other topics on the agenda is the setting up of a new 1.8 billion-euro Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. The Fund has the aim to eliminate the causes of illegal migration and improve the social and economic situation in North Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Lake Chad region.
Leaders will also discuss diplomatic measures to be taken by the European Union and the international community in order to end the conflict in Syria and will exchange views on joining efforts with the Middle East and North African countries to fight organized crime and human trafficking.
