Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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346. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the EU expects to be in a position to respond to the issue of refugees including those crossing by boat in the Mediterranean; the extent to which all EU countries are likely to support measures to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25986/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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348. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the improved proposals the EU may have to cater for an influx of refugees throughout the summer; if a unified approach might emerge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25988/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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353. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if new initiatives are required and agreed to deal with the refugee situation in Europe with particular reference to attempting to achieve a Europe-wide approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25994/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 348 and 353 together.

Migration has been close to the top of the EU agenda since the current crisis emerged a little over two years ago. It has featured on the agenda of almost every European Council over the period, as well on the agenda of many Foreign Affairs and JHA Councils. The migration crisis will again be discussed by EU Heads of State and Government at their June European Council meeting.

The EU has responded to the crisis by adopting a range of measures to deal with this mass movement of people. These have included engaging with countries of origin and transit to address the root causes of migration including through bespoke Migration Compacts; agreeing a plan to relocate migrants from Italy and Greece across the Union; the launching of Operation Sophia to disrupt people smuggling in the Mediterranean; and substantial financial assistance to countries hosting large numbers of migrants. EU Heads of State and Government concluded a landmark migration deal with Turkey in March 2016, which has resulted in a very substantial reduction in the number of migrants risking their lives at sea to enter the EU from Turkey.

In the past year the focus has shifted from Turkey to the so-called Central Mediterranean Route, with some 181,000 migrants crossing from Libya to Italy in 2016. In March 2017, EU leaders issued the Malta Declaration, which sets out the EU’s commitment to assist Libya, with a strong focus on capacity building. This includes training, equipment and support for the Libyan national coast guard and other relevant agencies, as well as seeking to ensure adequate reception capacities and conditions in Libya for migrants, including through working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration. Last month the EU announced a €90m programme to improve the protection of migrants and reinforce migration management in Libya. This is in addition to the €120 million already announced for migration-related support for Libya.

Responses to the migration crisis have varied from one EU member state to the other with some states admitting large numbers of migrants while others have resisted admitting any. Ireland choose to voluntarily Opt In to EU arrangements to relocate migrants from Greece and Italy and accept up to 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers both on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of solidarity with our partners in the EU. For administrative and other reasons, progress in taking in migrants has been slower than anticipated, as it has in many other EU member states. However, in recent months the pace has accelerated. We have now taken in 779 on resettlement (mainly Syrian asylum seekers from Lebanon) and 459 under relocation and those figures are expected to increase in the coming weeks and months.

The migration crisis is being driven variously by war, political instability, corruption, economic deprivation and human rights abuses. These need to be addressed in a holistic and strategic way incorporating immediate and long-term measures, both of which are part of the EU’s ongoing migration strategy.