Elements for PEC press lines

  • Heads' discussion of political consequences of Brexit for EU27
  • Determined to make a success of the EU with 27 Member States
  • Many common challenges ahead of us, but priority here and now to show unity and bring back political control in order to build our common future
  • People are concerned by a perceived lack of control and fears related to migration, terrorism, and globalisation. Need to tackle these issues as a matter of priority over the coming months:

1)Migration and external borders

-Further bring down number of irregular migrants

-Determined never to allow return to chaos of last year

-To that end:

a)commitment today by a number of Member States to offer immediate assistance to strengthen the protection of Bulgaria's border with Turkey;

b)before the end of the year, full capacity for rapid reaction of the European Border and Coast Guard, now signed into law;

c)migration compacts with third countries to lead to increased return rates, to be assessed by the December European Council;

d)work to be continued to broaden EU consensus in terms of long term migration policy, including on how to apply the principle of solidarity in the future.

2)Internal and external security

-Member States are at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, but the EU has an important role to support:

a)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;

b)startto set up a Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to allow advance check and, if necessary, deny entry ofvisa-exempt travellers;

c)a systematic effort against radicalisation, including through expulsions and entry bans where warranted.

-In a challenging geopolitical environment, the Union must also do its part on external security and defence:

a)start implementing the joint declaration with NATO immediately

b)as a follow-up on the Global Strategy, the December European Council to decide on implementation plan on security and defence

3)Economy

-Feeling secure also about providing a promising economic future for all. To this end:

a)October European Council - adoption of guidelines on arobust trade policy that reaps the benefits of open markets while taking into account concerns of citizens;

b)inDecember: decision on extension of the European Fund for Strategic Investment;

c)Spring 2017 European Council: review progress concerning the digital agenda;

d)in December - decision on EU support for Member States in fighting youth unemployment;

e)addresspossible unintended consequencesof free movement of persons while fully upholding the principle.

4)Way ahead

-Strengthen the mechanism for reviewing the implementation of decisions taken. Promise less,deliver more. Loyal co-operation of Member States and institutions;

-Bratislava is the beginning of a process. The coming formal European Council meetings will allow for concrete follow up on the themes mentioned here. The Heads of the 27 may need to meet again informally at the beginning of 2017. The March 2017 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties will bring together all leaders in Rome and will be used to round off the process launched in Bratislava.

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