Vordering na die Wes-Balkan-roeteleiersvergadering: Kontakpunte-videokonferensie

• The Greek Government reported on their planning for the delivery of 50,000 reception places in Greece before the end of the year, including 20,000 through host family and rent subsidy arrangements in cooperation with the UNHCR (Leaders' Statement Point 5).

• Other countries notified the reception capacities they can immediately put in place in view of reaching the additional 50,000 reception places along the Western Balkans route by the end of the year (Leaders' Statement Point 6):

o   Austria committed 5,000

o   Serbia committed 3,000

o   Croatia committed 2,000

o   Slovenia committed 2,000

This brings the total places pledged to 12,000 so far.

• Slovenia updated the group on the deployment of 400 police officers in Slovenia (Leaders' Statement Point 13). So far, countries have pledged a total of 183 officers, with 13 already deployed in the country and 30 on their way.

• Contact points agreed on a methodology for daily coordination of information flows, with the Commission and Frontex to centralise the data submitted by the contact points in a table which will cover in particular the size of the flows, points of entry and expected points of exit (Leaders' Statement Point 1). This information will be exchanged as of môre oggend.

• Frontex informed the group that it has today sent letters to the national Frontex points of contact in Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia, and to the Interior Ministers of Croatia and Greece to follow up on the commitment to upscale Operation Poseidon and to reinforce Frontex support at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, at the Croatian-Serbian border and to support registration in Greece at its external land borders (Leaders' Statement Point 13). The letters outline how Frontex envisages to provide that support and now require feedback and agreement from the national authorities.

• Contact points agreed to submit their needs assessments as soon as possible, so that the Commission is able to compile the information for the 4 November (Leaders' Statement Point 1).

• The Commission informed the group that yesterday it held a video conference call with international financial institutions (European Investment Bank, Council of Europe Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund) to explore how they can support the expansion of reception facilities along the Western Balkans Route (Leaders' Statement Point 7). The meeting identified the Council of Europe Development Bank as the best placed to contribute, since it is able to operate both within and outside the European Union, is able to offer grants rather than loans and has a dedicated migrant and refugee fund. The Commission will now start organising joint missions with the Council of Europe Development Bank to the relevant countries to operationalize this support. The Commission will continue work with the other institutions on medium and long term financial support.

In addition, the Commission as of today and in view of the urgency of the situation, has moved up its internal co-ordination mechanism (ARGUS - General Rapid Alert System) – which allows for a rapid and coordinated Commission response with accelerated decision-making processes – in place since weeks, to the next phase. This means that meetings involving all relevant actors across the Commission will now take place on a daily basis, including over the weekends and public holidays.

The group will reconvene for weekly video conferences, and will continue their bilateral contacts in the meantime to ensure full communication, co-ordination and co-operation to address the migration flows and ensure humane treatment of those seeking asylum in Europe. The next video conference will take place on Woensdag 4 November.

For the full Commission Press Release

For photos of the video conference