European Commission: More should be done to better manage migration flows

The European Commission on Friday adopted a report looking at the main developments within the EU's external migration policy in 2012 and 2013. According to the report, two years after the launch of the renewed Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM), there were important achievements in strengthening dialogue and cooperation, while more should be done to make further progress. "Our success largely depends on our dialogue and cooperation with non-EU countries and international organizations. But we should do even more to secure economic growth and competitiveness and to address jointly with non-EU countries the downsides of migration, such as trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants," said Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom. To address the realities of an increasing international mobility requires a better use of existing tools, such as mobility partnerships and common visa rules. So far, mobility partnerships have been concluded with six countries, including Georgia, Armenia, Morocco and Azerbaijan. Discussions on a similar partnership with Tunisia concluded in November 2013, and its signing is imminent. Discussions with Jordan began in December 2013. From 2012-2013, the Commission supported more than 90 migration-related projects with more than 200 million euros (274 million U.S. dollars) in all regions of the developing world. The Commission also said that more work should be done with regard to refugee protection and human rights. For instance, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) could play a greater role in improving asylum and reception capacities in non-EU countries, including within the framework of mobility partnerships. There is also room to improve the use of regional protection programmes, in particular through longer-term engagement and funding. Increased EU funding should also be available to support more resettlement/humanitarian admission places under the new asylum and migration Fund (2014-2020). The GAMM is, since 2005, the overarching framework of the EU external migration and asylum policy and defines how the EU conducts its political dialogue and operational cooperation with non-EU countries. It aims to foster the dialogue and cooperation with non-EU partner countries in four areas implemented through regional and bilateral policy dialogues.