Hyrdebrev forud for møde i Det Europæiske Råd den 23. september 2015

Udenrigsministeriet
Asiatisk Plads 2
DK-1448 København K
Telefon +45 33 92 00 00
Telefax +45 32 54 05 33
E-mail: um@um.dk
http://www.um.dk
Girokonto 3 00 18 06
Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg
Kopi: UPN
Bilag Sagsnummer Kontor
1 2015-337 EUK 21. september 2015
HYRDEBREV
Møde i Det Europæiske Råd den 23. september 2015
Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges hyrdebrev fra
formanden for Det Europæiske Råd til mødet i Det Europæiske Råd den
23. september 2015.
Kristian Jensen
Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2014-15 (2. samling)
UPN Alm.del Bilag 65
Offentligt


European Council
The President
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 - 1048 Bruxelles/Brussel - Belgique/België
Tél./Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 97 33 - Fax: +32 (0)2 281 67 37
ec.president@consilium.europa.eu 1/2
Brussels, 18 September 2015
&Name of the recipient
&Form of address
The crisis we are all witnessing is a test of our humanity and responsibility. It causes many
tensions and accusations among politicians and people in Europe. I have no illusions that Europe
will need to deal with this challenge for many years to come. Therefore I would like us to focus on
the overall approach to this crisis.
Our response will not obscure the brutal reality however. We as Europeans are currently not able
to manage our common external borders, hence some States decided to protect themselves by
closing their national ones. The protection of the European community is our first duty and
obligation and we have failed on this front. For too long our discussions have centred around
shifting the responsibility onto others. There is a long list of issues where we could blame one
another but it will not help us in finding a common solution. Today we must absolutely work out
policies that we can implement in order to help each other. That is why I will ask all of us to
honestly discuss what the EU can do to help its Member States in solving this problem. We will
also need to discuss our responsibilities at a national level. No one should shy away from them
because then we will be unable to build our joint European response based on unity and solidarity.
Shifting the responsibility and putting the blame on one another must definitely come to an end.
Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2014-15 (2. samling)
UPN Alm.del Bilag 65
Offentligt
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There are different experiences and perceptions within the EU and there are no easy solutions.
Still it cannot be an excuse not to develop a comprehensive strategy or to build a sound migration
policy that is effective and responsible while respecting our core values. The current 'migration
policy' is a sum of despair of the victims fleeing war and persecution, of their determination in
searching for a better life, of the cynicism of the smugglers, and too often, of the refugees and
migrants' tragic fate. Therefore it is essential to establish a credible European migration policy.
Besides discussing our overall approach to the crisis I want to address issues such as: help to the
frontline Member States; cooperation with the Western Balkan countries, with Turkey and the
countries bordering Syria; budgetary assistance to the High Commissioner for Refugees and the
World Food Programme; and the implementation of our conclusions on return and readmission.
We must also discuss diplomatic efforts in solving the Syria crisis. I will share with you my
assessment of the situation after my visits in the countries of the Mediterranean region and the
Middle East.
There is however one issue which cannot wait. The World Food Programme needs money to
provide food to 11 million people in Syria and in the region. The WFP has already cut substantially
food support to refugees. I would like to appeal to all of you not to wait until our meeting and
provide donations to the World Food Programme, in coordination with the ECHO.
I hope we will be able to address all these challenges at our special meeting next Wednesday at
6pm. The President of the European Parliament will join us in the beginning of the meeting. After
the exchange with President Schulz we will discuss the above-mentioned issues over dinner.
I am looking forward to seeing you all in Brussels.
&Salutations
D. TUSK