12 Task Force for the Mediterranean
| Committee's assessment
| Politically important
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| Committee's decision
| Cleared from scrutiny
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| Document details
| Commission Communication on the work of the Task Force Mediterranean
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| Legal base
| — |
| Department
| Home Office
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Summary and Committee's conclusions
12.1 The Task Force for the Mediterranean
was established by the Justice and Home Affairs Council in the
aftermath of the death at sea of more than 300 migrants off the
coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa in October 2013. It
brings together the expertise of the Commission, Member States,
the European External Action Service and relevant EU Agencies
(notably, Frontex, the European Asylum Support Office, Europol,
the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Maritime Safety
Agency) with a view to identifying a range of actions to prevent
further loss of life at sea. These actions are set out in the
Commission Communication and are based on the principles of prevention,
protection, solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility. They
encompass: cooperation with third (non-EU) countries; regional
protection, resettlement and legal avenues for migration to the
EU; people smuggling, human trafficking and organised crime; border
surveillance and the control of maritime borders; and assistance
to Member States experiencing high levels of migration.
12.2 The Government considers that the
Communication contains "a sensible and coherent set of actions"
but has expressed reservations about some of the Task Force proposals
concerning legal migration, the relocation and resettlement of
refugees, and the possibility of developing new forms of "protected
entry" to the EU. The Government has indicated that it has
particular expertise to offer in developing information and awareness-raising
campaigns in countries of origin and transit to deter potential
migrants from embarking on hazardous journeys to the EU.
12.3 When we lasted considered the Communication,
we noted that the Commission had been invited to present a comprehensive
report at the June Justice and Home Affairs Council on the actions
taken by the Task Force. We asked the Government to provide a
further report after the Council setting out the Government's
assessment of the progress made in implementing the actions set
out in the Communication and its evaluation of the "added
value" provided by the Task Force.
12.4 In this, our fourth Report, we
consider the reply from the Minister for Immigration and Security
at the Home Office (James Brokenshire), which draws on information
contained in an accompanying Commission Staff Working Document
summarising the progress made by the Task Force.[29]
12.5 The scale of the challenge in
the Mediterranean shows no sign of diminishing. In its report
on the work of the Task Force, the Commission notes that there
has been a ten-fold increase in the number of migrants arriving
at the southern shores of the EU since the beginning of 2014,
compared to the same period in 2013. The summer months are likely
to see a further surge. Significant efforts are being made to
meet the challenge and we agree with the Minister that a coordinated
approach, based on the framework of actions agreed by the Task
Force, should enable the EU and Member States to respond in a
more coherent manner. The adequacy of that response, in terms
of preventing further loss of life at sea and stemming migratory
flows, remains to be seen. We are content to clear the Communication
from scrutiny, but ask the Government to continue to update us
on any significant developments in the work of the Task Force.
Full details of the
documents: Commission Communication
on the work of the Task Force Mediterranean: (35625), 17398/13,
COM(13) 869.
Background
12.6 Our earlier Reports describe the
actions developed by the Task Force to address the causes of migration,
combat people smuggling and human trafficking, and enhance maritime
border surveillance and controls, whilst at the same time ensuring
an appropriate humanitarian response to those in need of international
protection. Whilst underlining the need for careful monitoring
of the work of the Task Force to ensure that it does not stray
into areas of competence best exercised by Member States, we agreed
with the Government that clear timeframes are needed to maintain
the political momentum that led to the establishment of the Task
Force and to ensure that the actions agreed are carried out effectively
and expeditiously.
The Minister's letter of 13 June 2014
12.7 The Minister encloses a copy of
a Commission Staff Working Document summarising the progress made
by the Task Force in implementing the actions set out in the Commission's
Communication. He notes:
"The document highlights that
a great deal of action is underway to prevent dangerous and illegal
sea crossings, to combat the people smugglers, and ensure protection
for those in need. The table also reflects the UK's commitment
to these significant efforts.
"In my view, the Commission's
document makes clear the value added by a coordinated response
by the EU, its agencies and Member States. It is clear from this
document that significant efforts are being made to take forward
the actions agreed by the Task Force, and that these efforts are
providing a far more coherent and substantial response than would
have been achieved otherwise."
12.8 Despite this response, the Minister
continues:
"It has proved very difficult
to stem the illegal migratory flows, not least given the situation
in Libya and the numbers fleeing the Syrian crisis. At present
the numbers crossing the Central Mediterranean are at a record
high, with increasing pressure on asylum systems across the EU.
In order to streamline efforts under the Task Force, the June
JHA Council agreed that prioritisation of EU efforts is essential,
and that preventative work in countries of origin and transit
should be the principal focus alongside enhanced efforts to tackle
people smugglers and traffickers. The Home Secretary supported
these aims, calling also for increasing returns of those not in
need of protection in order to dissuade migrants from making the
dangerous journey across the Mediterranean. Although the challenges
are considerable, only action 'upstream' in countries of origin
and transit offers a genuine hope of reducing the numbers attempting
these crossings. In this regard, the joint leverage that can
be exerted by the EU under the TFM [Task Force Mediterranean]
will play an important role in delivering these objectives in
partnership with third countries.
"This focus on the external
dimension means that the EU's External Action Service (EEAS) has
a vital role to play. It is essential that we harness the EU's
broader external engagements to drive progress on migratory pressures
and on preventing facilitation of these dangerous voyages."
Previous Committee Reports
First Report HC 219-i (2014-15), chapter
16 (4 June 2014); Forty-first Report HC 83-xxxviii (2013-14),
chapter 10 (19 March 2014); Thirty-seventh Report HC-xxxiv (2013-14),
chapter 13 (26 February 2014); Thirty-fourth Report HC-xxxi (2013-14),
chapter 7 (5 February 2014).
29 Council document 10067/14 + ADD 1, SWD(14) 173. Back
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