European leaders vowed to accelerate the implementation of already-agreed measures to tackle the refugee crisis, though stopped short of unveiling any new proposals on migration at the final EU summit of the year.
In a communiqué issued by leaders on Friday the European Council pledged to address deficiencies in EU asylum policy.
“For the integrity of Schengen to be safeguarded, it is indispensable to regain control over the external borders. Deficiencies, notably as regards hot spots, relocation and returns, must be rapidly addressed.”
In particular there are growing concerns about the EU's relocation scheme agreed in September, which aims to relocate 120,000 refugees across the EU. To date, just over 180 migrants have been redistributed, with countries, including Ireland, expressing frustration about the logistical challenges facing countries ready to participate in the scheme.
Resettlement scheme
A proposal for a voluntary resettlement scheme for Syrian refugees residing in
Turkey
also gained scant support from leaders during the two-day summit, amid concern from some member states that Turkey had not sufficiently curbed the number of refugees travelling to the EU.
Nonetheless, Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed Ireland would contribute about €20 million to the €3 billion financial package agreed with Turkey last month.
Though a final decision on the European Commission's new EU border guard is not expected before the middle of next year, most member states backed the plan, though Minister of State Dara Murphy said Ireland was "highly unlikely" to participate in the initiative.
Tensions also arose during the second day of the summit over the proposed construction of the so-called Nord Stream-2 pipeline linking Germany and Russia, with a number of member states criticising Germany's plans to press ahead with the scheme which will bypass Ukraine.
In strongly worded comments after the summit, European Council president Donald Tusk said the proposal was at odds with the EU's energy union strategy and would undermine Ukraine's role as a gas transit state.
Italy also joined a group of east European countries in criticising Germany's intention to increase the capacity of the Baltic Sea gas pipeline, particularly at a time when sanctions against Russia were being renewed.
Despite a late push by Italy to put a discussion of EU sanctions against Russia on the leaders’ agenda, the extension of EU sanctions did not feature at the summit. Instead EU ambassadors signed off on a decision to roll over existing sanctions against Russia for another six months.
Separately the European Commission also said it was lifting the visa requirements on citizens of Georgia and Ukraine, though it said eight outstanding requirements still remained for Kosovo to fulfil the requirements of its visa liberalisation roadmap.
Referendum
In a summit dominated by the UK’s quest to renegotiate its relationship with the EU, British prime minister
David Cameron
indicated on Friday that the referendum on EU membership could take place this summer as he hailed progress in his discussions with leaders.
“I believe that 2016 will be the year we achieve something really vital, fundamentally changing the UK’s relationship with the EU and finally addressing the concerns of the British people about our membership,” Mr Cameron said.
Senior EU sources said the tone of the discussion on Britain's demands on Thursday night had been constructive, though some countries, including Portugal, Spain and Poland, had voiced their opposition to any four-year rule on in-work benefits for migrants.
