VZCZCXRO0393
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #0541/01 0471606
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161606Z FEB 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAHLC/DHS WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000541 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS PREL PREF SMIG KCRM SW EUN
SUBJECT: JHA COUNCIL "RECOGNIZES" SWEDEN'S PROBLEM 
WITH IRAQI REFUGEES 
 
REF: 2006 BRUSSELS 04123 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  EU ministers for Justice and Home Affairs (JHA 
Council) on February 15 "recognized" Sweden's 
"particular problem" with its number of Iraqi 
refugees.  Commission Vice-President Frattini 
promised to look at the situation with a view to 
presenting proposals to the Council.  The German 
Presidency said ministers agreed to reinforce the EU 
Agency for the management of the EU's external 
borders (FRONTEX) by advancing the Rapid Border 
Intervention Teams project and by contributing 
helicopters, patrol boats and equipment to the 
Agency in anticipation of an influx of refugees 
across EU borders this spring.  Police and judicial 
cooperation issues discussed at the Council have 
been reported SEPTEL.  Full text of Council 
conclusions has been transmitted to EUR/ERA.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
IRAQI REFUGEES IN EU COUNTRIES 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  Speaking at the final press conference of the 
February 15 JHA Council, German Interior 
Minister/Council chair Schduble said the Council 
"recognized the particular problem" raised by the 
Swedish delegation with the large number of Iraqi 
refugees in its country.  Sweden, which takes in the 
highest number of refugees in the EU, wants its EU 
partners to share the burden and provide funding to 
staes neighboring Iraq.  More than 9,000 Iraqis 
sought asylum in Sweden last year and Iraqis now 
represent the second largest group of migrants 
(after the Finns) in the country.  Commission Vice- 
President Frattini said he would work with the 
German Presidency to deal with the issue 
"specifically and in writing" by "submitting ideas 
to the ministers" before their next meeting in 
April.  Frattini said the number of Iraqi refugees, 
which was "a problem for Sweden now," could 
potentially affect other countries as well. 
 
MIGRATION PROBLEMS/FRONTEX 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  The Council reviewed EU efforts to strengthen 
cooperation with non-EU countries in the fight 
against illegal migration through the development of 
cooperation incentives, the conclusion of 
partnership agreements on migration and development, 
and the promotion of "circular migration" (allowing 
temporary stays for the purpose of work, training or 
education).  The debate took place on the basis of a 
note from the German Presidency advocating practical 
support to countries of origin and transit for 
capacity-building within the framework of region- 
specific cooperation platforms for migration and 
development.  Commission Vice-President Frattini 
noted that Development Commissioner Michel, during 
his recent visit to Mali, had promised to establish 
a first "common center" in Africa with a view to 
providing potential migrants with information about 
legal forms of migration to Europe and the dangers 
of illegal channels. 
 
¶4.  With a reference to the anticipated influx of 
refugees onto the EU's Southern borders in the 
spring, Schduble reported "a great deal of 
enthusiasm" about the idea of reinforcing the 
European border management agency (FRONTEX).  More 
specifically, Schduble and Frattini said ministers 
agreed to move ahead with the proposed Rapid Border 
Intervention Teams to be composed of member state 
experts that would be sent by FRONTEX to those EU 
countries having to cope with an influx of illegal 
migrants.  Frattini was confident that the Council 
and the European Parliament would be able to reach 
consensus on the proposed Regulation in time for 
formal approval at the April JHA Council, thus 
allowing the scheme to become operational at the 
beginning of May. 
 
¶5.  Schduble and Frattini said member states would 
also support FRONTEX in setting up a technical 
central register known as the "toolbox."  The 
 
BRUSSELS 00000541  002 OF 002 
 
 
Regulation establishing FRONTEX of October 2004 
already included provisions on centralized records 
of technical equipment offered by member states that 
could be put by the Agency at the disposal of 
another country facing a difficult situation at its 
borders.  The register will include surveillance 
aircraft, helicopters, patrol boats and equipment to 
control borders.  Frattini, who had recently been 
complaining in the media about the lack of 
cooperation from member states, declared himself 
confident after the Council meeting that EU 
governments were prepared to announce further 
contributions and to provide FRONTEX with the 
necessary operational equipment.  His spokesman said 
19 member states had so far made contributions, 
totaling 13 helicopters and about 50 boats as well 
as technical equipment for border surveillance. 
German sources said the Federal Police registered 
four helicopters for land and sea surveillance, one 
boat for operations in the North and Baltic Seas and 
portable thermal imaging cameras. 
 
ENLARGEMENT OF SCHENGEN AREA 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Meeting in the Mixed Committee with Schengen 
participants Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, EU 
Home Affairs ministers: 
 
-- Noted the state of play of the so-called 
"SISone4all" project (REFTEL) designed to 
extend the current first-Generation Schengen 
Information System (SIS1+).  The project will 
allow for the lifting of the EU internal 
borders with the countries that joined the EU 
in 2004.  Portugal, which initiated this 
project, indicated it was running well and on 
time; 
 
-- Reviewed the global rescheduling of the 
Schengen Information System II (SISII). 
Commission Vice-President Frattini told a press 
conference SISII was facing a six-month delay, 
implying it would be operational by mid- 
December 2008. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
------------- 
 
¶7.  Among other issues: 
 
-- Vice-President Frattini drew attention to the 
increasing number of Moldovan citizens applying 
for Romanian passports; 
 
-- The Council noted two reports concerning 
trafficking in human beings in connection to 
the 2006 World Cup in Germany.  The reports are 
available from the Council website: 
http://register.consilium.europa.eu. 
 
GRAY