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Daily Report
Arrivals and Departures
Frontex has reported that nearly all arrivals on the Central Mediterranean route are people from sub- Saharan Africa, mainly nationals of Nigeria, Somalia and Gambia. Frontex also notes that there have been no signs of a significant shift of people taking this route instead of other routes which may have become inaccessible, especially the Eastern Mediterranean, to the Central Mediterranean.
According to Frontex, there were 9,600 arrivals to Italy in March 2016, more than double than in February 2016. However, due to monthly fluctuations, as at 15 April, sea arrivals to Italy increased by 12.5% compared to the same month in 2015.
Critical Developments
Yesterday, 18 April, in Luxemburg, the Foreign Affairs Council discussed the EU's activities related to the external affairs aspects of the refugee and migrant crisis. It was agreed to focus efforts on both the Eastern and the Central Mediterranean routes. The Council assessed progress in implementing the EU – Turkey agreement, and also reviewed the EU measures andinitiatives taken regarding the Central Mediterranean route. Ministers underlined actions on the fight against traffickers and smugglers, notably with the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR med Sophia, the EU support to Africa through the Emergency Trust Fund, the launch of a series of comprehensive high level dialogues on migration with African countries and the work with countries of the G5 Sahel.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, attended part of the Foreign Affairs Council. Discussions focussed on implementation of the EU-Turkey Agreement, UNHCR’s work along the Western Balkans route, as well as work in Libya, support for Afghan refugees in Iran and those internally displaced inside Afghanistan as well as some displacement situations in Africa. The Syria situation and continuous related needs were also raised during that session.
Italy's strategic plan to manage the refugee and migrant emergency was well received by the European Commission and the EU foreign ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council. In Brussels, the spokesman of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, explained to the media that the Italian plan is focused on collaboration between the countries of origin and those of destination to better manage borders outside the EU.
The Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said on Monday in a news conference before departing for Strasbourg (where he addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and met with the European Commission President) that Turkey would no longer honour the agreement with the European Union if the bloc fails to uphold its promise to provide visa- free travel for Turkish citizens by June. He added that Turkey has been working to fulfil its pledges to the EU and he had no reason to expect a derail regarding the implementation of the agreement.
In Greece, the UNHCR Representative met with Alternate Minister for Migration Policy (prior to traveling to Luxembourg) regarding the overall cooperation partnership of UNHCR with the Greek government.