Migration is one of the priority areas for the European Union which is working towards a European agenda on Migration. The EU is working on this agenda on migration to set out a coordinated European response, combining internal and external policies in order to (1) reduce the incentives for irregular migration, (2) save lives and secure external borders, (3) ensure a strong common asylum policy and (4) create a new policy on legal migration.

Below you will find relevant European instruments and reports on migration and migrant smuggling:

• Press Release: Commission annoucnes New Migration Partnership Framework: reinforced cooperation with third countries to better manage migration, Strasbourg (7 June 2016)
• Council conclusions on migrant smuggling. Press release 120/16, Home Affairs (10 March 2016)
• Background document to the Public Consultation on “Tackling migrant smuggling: is the EU legislation fir for purpose?” (14 January 2016)
• Valletta Summit 11-12 November 2015: Action Plan
• Valletta Summit 11-12 November 2015: Political Declaration
• High-Level Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean/Western Balkans route – Declaration (8 October 2015)
• Council of the European Union: Council Decision on establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece, Brussels, 12098/15. (22 September 2015)
• Council of the European Union: Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting: Presidency Conclusions, Brussels, 12002/1/15 REV 1 (14 September 2015)
• Final Report: A study on smuggling of migrants – characteristics, responses and cooperation with third countries (September 2015)
• Council of the European Union: Council Conclusions on safe countries of origin, Brussels, 11133/15 (22 July 2015)
• Council of the European Union: Outcome of the Council meeting – Justice and Home Affairs, Brussels, 11097/15 (20 July 2015)
• Council of the European Union: Outcome of the Council meeting (25-26 June 2015) – Conclusions, Brussels, EUCO 22/15 (26 June 2015)
• Council Conclusions on the Renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy 2015-2020, Brussels, 978/15 (19 June 2015)
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – EU Action Plan against Migrant Smuggling (2015-2020), Brussels, COM(2015) 285_final (27 May 2015)
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee of the Regions – A European Agenda on Migration, COM(2015) 240_final (13 May 2015)
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – The European Agenda on Security, Strasbourg, COM(2015) 185_final (28 April 2015)
• Special meeting of the European Council, Statement, Brussels – (23 April 2015)
• Ministers agreed to reinforce the fight against trafficking of human beings, to strengthen EU action to save lives at sea as well as enhance support for countries on the front line, by sharing the resettlement of refugees. Outcome of 3385th Council meeting Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Luxembourg (20 April 2015)
• Managing migratory flows, outcome of the 3376th Council meeting Justice and Home Affairs, Brussels (12-13 March 2015)
• Latvian Presidency of the European Union: Presidency Activity AMBERLIGHT 2015, The State Border Guard of the Republic of Latvia, (2015)
• Council of the European Union: Final report on operation MOS MAIORUM, Brussels, 5474/15 (22 January 2015)
• Development of a renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy, Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, Brussels (4 December 2014)
• European Council Conclusions (26-27 June 2014), strategic guidelines for the legislative and operational planning in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, Brussels, EUCO 79/14 (27 June 2014)
• Commission Staff Working Document: Implementation of the Communication on the Work of the Task Force Mediterranean, Brussels, SWD(2014) 173_final, Part 1/2 (22 June 2014)
• Commission Staff Working Document: Implementation of the Communication on the Work of the Task Force Mediterranean, Brussels, SWD(2014) 173_final, Part 2/2 (22 June 2014)
• Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on EU Return Policy, Brussels, COM(2014) 199_final (28 March 2015)
• Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility 2012-2013, Brussels, COM(2014) 96_final (21 February 2014)
• Council of the European Union: Final report on operation PERKUNAS, Brussels, 16045/13 (11 December 2013)
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Work of the Task Force Mediterranean, Brussels, COM(2013) 869_final, (04 December 2013)
• Regulation  (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of “Eurodac” for the comparison of fingerprints or the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (recast) (26 June 2013)
• Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member Stateson short-stay visas (VIS Regulation) (9 July 2008)
• Regulation (EC) No 1987/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) (20 December 2006)
• Council Framework Decision on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence (2202/946/JHA), OJ L 328/1 (28 November 2002)
• Council Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence, OJ L 328/17 (28 November 2002)