EU leaders have endorsed further work on a migration emergency framework, while leaving its legal design unresolved.
The European Council’s conclusions released on October 16 welcome the Commission’s intention to develop the framework with member states and address different forms of instrumentalisation of migration. Leaders agreed to return to the subject at a forthcoming meeting.
At the closing press conference, European Council President António Costa said leaders were open to several ideas in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent migration letter, including the emergency framework.
The summit did not adopt emergency powers, suspend asylum obligations or set out conditions under which a state could depart from existing rules. Its conclusions contain no operational test or timetable for the proposed framework.
Costa also acknowledged continuing political differences over migration policy. The immediate outcome is agreement to continue development and discussion, rather than an enacted change to the EU asylum system.
