Reinforcing the control of the EU southern external maritime borders

One of the key measures of the Council is to accelerate the adoption of the proposal for a Regulation on Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABIT). Furthermore, the Council requires that the preparations for an EU border management strategy, launched on Finland's initiative, be continued and the most central strategic guidelines of the initiative taken to the Justice and Home Affairs Council in December 2006.

The conclusions invite FRONTEX to take forward work on the feasibility study on the establishment of a technical surveillance system in the Mediterranean Sea. The system should cover the whole of the EU's southern maritime border. On the basis of the feasibility study, the Commission should prepare a report to the Council by March 2007.

By the end of 2006, the Commission should, in cooperation with FRONTEX, issue a Communication to the Council concerning operational short-term measures, taking account of the results of the feasibility study on the establishment of a Mediterranean Coastal PatrolNetwork and the experience gained in joint EU operations. The Commission should also examine the need to reinforce FRONTEX by way of additional personnel and increasing its budget allocation for 2007 and succeeding years, and explore means of improving the identification and return of irregular immigrants. In addition, the Commission should examine ways of ensuring appropriate reception conditions in the Member States facing the greatest volume of irregular immigrants.

The Schengen Information System to become operational in June 2008 at the earliest

The Schengen Information System (SIS II) will become operational in the Member States using the current system (SIS I+) in June 2008 at the earliest. EU Interior Ministers considered the new timetable for the technical development of SIS II. The aim is to have for the December JHA Council a realistic and feasible plan would be drawn up for the abolition of internal border controls between the old and new Member States based on the new timetable.

The Finnish Presidency will do its utmost to extending the Schengen area as soon as possible

"The Finnish Presidency, in cooperation with the Commission and Vice-President Franco Frattini will do its utmost to extend the Schengen area as soon as possible without compromising security," said Mr Rajamäki at the meeting.

At the informal JHA Ministerial Meeting held in Tampere on 21 September 2006, the Presidency and the Commission were asked to explore the possibility of integrating the new Member States into the current Schengen Information System (SIS I+). The Member States' experts who held a meeting chaired by the Presidency on 29 September stated that it was technically possible to include the new Member States in the current system but making a decision on the matter required further studies.

The future of the Hague Programme to be assessed at the December JHA Council and the European Council

The informal Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Ministerial Meeting held in Tampere on 20-22 September 2006 discussed the assessment of the Hague Programme on the basis of the discussion papers prepared by the Presidency. The Presidency's aim is that the European Council of 14-15 December discusses the main political questions related to the review of the Programme and adopts the related conclusions. Other issues related to the Hague Programme are to be addressed at the JHA Council on 4-5 December.

For further information, please contact Antti Pelttari, Director-General, tel. +358 9 160 42290; Hannele Taavila, Counsellor, tel. +32 2 2878 504, +32 476 599 913 (police cooperation and rescue services); Annikki Vanamo-Alho, Counsellor, tel. +32 2 3878 420, +32 475 650 534 (immigration and asylum affairs); Markku Hassinen, Counsellor, tel. +32 2 2878 527, +32 478 887 463 (border security and visa affairs); or Sari Haavisto, Counsellor, tel. +32 2 2878 626, +32 473 485 025