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25/11/2022 21:30 | Press release EU interior ministers in discussed the problem of illegal migration in Europe in an extraordinary meeting Complicated migration situation across Europe, that was the main topic of the meeting of EU interior ministers, who agreed today on the need to tackle illegal migration together at EU level. Press release 25 November 202221:30 EU interior ministers in discussed the problem of illegal migration in Europe in an extraordinary meeting https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-233748?&lg=INT Complicated migration situation across Europe, that was the main topic of the meeting of EU interior ministers, who agreed today on the need to tackle illegal migration together at EU level. Vít Rakušan, as Interior Minister of the Presidency country, has called an extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels for today, 25 November 2022. The topic was clear: migration. Indeed, illegal migration has increased significantly this year on all migration routes to Europe. "We have called today's extraordinary meeting because it is necessary to address migration on all migration routes. As the EU, we must find a way out of this crisis together and be united. We have shown today that we can do it," said Interior Minister Vít Rakušan. The interior ministers agreed on the need to adopt both short-term solutions and systemic long-term measures. Short-term solutions, according to Vít Rakušan, include intensified cooperation with third countries in the area of border protection, the fight against smugglers and the return of migrants who are not entitled to asylum. However, the most significant problem for Europe at the moment is the Western Balkan route. In the Western Balkans region alone, there are 14 times more attempts to cross the border this year than in 2019. "It is necessary for the Western Balkan partners to fulfil their commitments to visa harmonisation and border protection. The EU is ready to support them and it is great that in the recent meeting in Albania we managed to negotiate the first successes," added Rakušan. According to the Interior Minister, the long-term and sustainable solution, which the EU cannot do without and which the Czech Presidency is striving for, is the reform of the common migration and asylum policy. „The Czech Presidency is making every effort to reach consensus on the main principles of the reform, which will help us address the situation in a consistent and long-term manner. Our proposals have support and I firmly believe that they will pave the way for the next Presidency to complete the reform,“ the Czech minister said. The Minister of the Interior also appreciated the efforts of the European Commission and the presentation of an action plan to address the situation on the central Mediterranean migration route and welcomed the Commission's promise that similar plans would be developed for other routes, notably the Western Balkan route. The ministers in Brussels once again supported Ukraine, and Vít Rakušan reminded that, in addition to illegal migration, the upcoming winter must be taken into account, due to the ongoing unjustified Russian war against civilians, with the possible influx of new refugees from Ukraine.

25/11/2022 17:40 | Press release Trade ministers discuss aid to Ukraine and relations with the US in Brussels The World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform, EU-US trade relations and further trade assistance to Ukraine. A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in the format of trade ministers (FAC/TRADE) was held in Brussels, chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela on behalf of the Czech Presidency. The ministers also discussed bilateral trade relations, including the current negotiations on free trade agreements.

Press release

25 November 202217:40

Trade ministers discuss aid to Ukraine and relations with the US in Brussels


© EU


The World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform, EU-US trade relations and further trade assistance to Ukraine. A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in the format of trade ministers (FAC/TRADE) was held in Brussels, chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela on behalf of the Czech Presidency. The ministers also discussed bilateral trade relations, including the current negotiations on free trade agreements.


The Council agreed on the importance of strengthening transatlantic relations. Ministers discussed the upcoming third meeting of the Trade and Technology Council, which will take place on 5 December 2022 in the US. At the same time, concerns were raised by some Member States regarding the negative impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act on the European Union. The global arrangement on sustainable steel and aluminium also resonated in the discussions.

"The US remains a key partner and in the current geopolitical context it is all the more important to further deepen our relationship. It is not a good thing that the recently passed US Inflation Reduction Act could undermine that relationship. That is why we hope that the established working group will find a quick and lasting solution," says Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela.

Representatives of the EU Member States also supported further assistance to Ukraine, and trade can play an important role in this regard. During the working lunch, ministers also discussed the next steps in relation to trade agreements with New Zealand, Chile, Mexico and Mercosur, as well as the ongoing negotiations on free trade agreements with countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

"One of the important priorities of the Czech Presidency is to strengthen the resilience of the EU. In this context, diversification of resources through the negotiation of new agreements is an important aspect," Minister Síkela added.

The ministers also assessed current developments in the WTO. Despite the difficult geopolitical situation in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference took place in June. Preparations are now underway for the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference.

Press material Friday 25 November 2022

● General Secretariat   25/11/2022 18:04 | Press release | Forward look: 28 November - 11 December 2022   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 28-29 November 2022 A recommendation on “pathways to school success”, policy debates on the 2022 European Year of Youth and on turning recent crises into an opportunity for the development of sport as well as a discussion on solidarity with the Ukrainian cultural sector will be centre stage of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 28 November 2022 Ministers will follow-up on the EU-African Union summit and will hold an exchange of views with the chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki. Member states will also discuss Team Europe’s crisis response with a focus on Ukraine and Afghanistan. Read more EU-Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) ministerial meeting, 29 November 2022 After three years of focusing on the future of the EU-OACPS relations, ministers of the two sides will meet in Brussels on 29 November to exchange views on the many issues of importance for the Partnership. Read more Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 1 December 2022 Ministers responsible for the internal market and industry will meet in Brussels and aim to adopt a Council position on the Chips Act, the directive on corporate sustainability due diligence and the regulation on geographical indication protection for crafts and industrial products. Read more Competitiveness Council (Research and space), 2 December 2022 Ministers responsible for research and space will meet to discuss research infrastructures and the New European Innovation Agenda. EU space data exploitation will also be on the agenda. Read more Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 5 December 2022 The Council is invited to adopt a general approach on the revised regulation for the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), approve conclusions on the ongoing development of inland waterway transport (NAIADES III) and discuss the state of play of current legislative files in the field of transport. Read more Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications), 6 December 2022 The Council is expected to adopt a general approach on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act and the regulation establishing a framework for a European digital identity (eID), and take note of progress reports on the regulation on harmonised rules on fair access and use of data (Data Act) and on the regulation on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements (Cyber Resilience Act). Ministers will also hold a policy debate on digital skills for the digital decade. Read more Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 6 December 2022 The Council will discuss the communication on the economic governance review, the revision of the energy taxation directive and the European Semester 2023. Read more Justice and Home Affairs Council, 8-9 December 2022 Home affairs ministers will discuss the full application of the Schengen acquis in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania and will look at the overall state of the Schengen area. Ministers will assess progress on the regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. They will also exchange views on the external dimension of migration and the situation along the main migratory routes, as well as on the home affairs aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Justice ministers will aim to adopt general approaches on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and on the environmental crime directive. They will discuss the directive against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) and will exchange views on the fight against antisemitism. Ministers will aim to adopt conclusions on the fight against impunity regarding crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Read more Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy), 8 December 2022 Ministers of employment and social affairs will seek to reach a Council position on two proposed directives: on improving working conditions in platform work and on the protection of workers from the risks related to the exposure to asbestos. Also on the agenda: the European Care Strategy and the European Semester. Read more Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 9 December 2022 Ministers of health plan to adopt a new recommendation on cancer screening and will discuss the issue of COVID-19 vaccine procurement. Read more Other events Eurogroup, 5 December 2022 EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, 6 December 2022 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Czech presidency (1 July - 31 December 2022)

Meetings Friday 25 November 2022

● Council of the EU   25/11/2022 18:43 | MEETING | Main results - Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 25 November 2022   Home affairs ministers discussed the current situation along all migratory routes, taking stock of the urgent challenges and joint way forward.

Council of the EU
Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 25 November 2022

Main results

Home affairs ministers discussed the current situation along all migratory routes, taking stock of the urgent challenges and joint way forward.



In the past years we have taken a number of measures to jointly address the migratory challenges we face. However, more can and must be done to find more sustainable solutions and adapt to the ever-evolving situation. At today’s meeting ministers reiterated their commitment to finding concrete common solutions that can be put in place immediately, while working closely together on concluding the ongoing migration reform as soon as possible.Vít Rakušan, Czech Minister of Interior


Infographic - Migration flows: Eastern, Central and Western routesSee full infographic

Ministers underlined the importance of paying close attention to all routes, based on a whole-of-route approach. They confirmed the EU’s unity in facing the current and upcoming challenges.

The Presidency issued a summary at the end of the meeting, highlighting a number of principles for the joint way forward, including:continuous commitment to building more resilient migration and asylum system and dedicating all efforts to find compromise on the reform of the EU asylum and migration pact as soon as possible.
the need to step up EU support and cooperation with all partner countries and organisations to prevent departures and avoid loss of life, to address the root causes of migration and fight against smuggling networks and to significantly improve return and readmission.
welcoming the Commission´s action plan on the Central Mediterranean as well as its readiness to develop similar action plans for other routes, starting with the Western Balkan route.
a commitment to increase efforts to implement the solidarity mechanism agreed by a number of member states in June
the need to strengthen coordination and cooperation with all actors involved in search and rescue
the importance of proper protection and management of EU external borders, refusing all attempts to instrumentalise migrantsExtraordinary Home Affairs Council on the situation along all migratory routes and a joint way forward (Presidency summary)EU asylum reform (background information)
EU migration policy (background information)
Migration routes: Commission proposes Action Plan for Central Mediterranean to address immediate challenges (European Commission)


Meeting information

Meeting n°3916
25 November 2022
15:30
Preparatory documentsProvisional agenda
Background brief
Outcome documentsList of participants

Meetings Friday 25 November 2022

● Council of the EU   25/11/2022 15:55 | MEETING | Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 28-29 November 2022   Background brief

Council of the EU
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 28-29 November 2022

Live streaming
Live streaming


28 November 2022TBC Arrivals
10:10 Public session (Education)
10:35 Public session (Education)
TBC Press conference (Education)
15:30 Public session (Youth)

29 November 202209:00 Arrivals
10:20 Public session (Culture and Audiovisual)
TBC Press conference (Culture and Audiovisual)
15:35 Public session (Sport)
TBC Press conference (Youth and Sport)

Estimated schedule
Agenda highlights

Ministers from EU member states responsible for education, youth, culture and sport will meet in Brussels and hold discussions on:the European Education Area in times of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
the 2022 European Year of Youth
solidarity with the Ukrainian cultural sector
how to turn recent crises (COVID-19 pandemic, Russian aggression, surge in energy prices) into an opportunity for the development of sportEuropean Year of Youth: 2022 (background information)
EU response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (background information)

Ministers of education are also expected to adopt a Council recommendation on pathways to school success whose aim is to reduce early leaving from school and training and underachievement in basic skills. A set of Council conclusions on well-being in digital education will look into how learners’ potential can be maximised in digital learning environments.

The promotion of an intergenerational dimension in the youth field will be on the agenda of ministers of youth whereas ministers of culture plan to approve the EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026. Ministers of sport are aiming at approving conclusions on sustainable and accessible sports infrastructure.

The presidency will present a progress report on the state of play of the work in the Council on the proposal for a European Media Freedom Act.


Meeting information

Meeting n°3913
Brussels
28 November 2022
10:00
Preparatory documentsList of A items, non-legislative activities
List of A items, legislative deliberations
Provisional agenda
Background brief