Agenda of the EU Home Affairs Council, 5 March 2025

Entry/Exit System

The presidency aims to reach a common member states’ position (general approach) on a regulation about a progressive start of operations of the Entry/Exit System.

The EES registers entry, exit and refusal of entry of third-country nationals who cross the EU’s external borders for a short-term stay. Under the new system, border officers will scan the fingerprints or take a photo of those crossing the border for the first time and record this information in a digital file.

Ministers will also discuss the interoperability of the EU’s law enforcement IT infrastructure and will approve a new implementation roadmap (including the start of ETIAS, the EU’s travel authorisation system).

IT systems to fight crime and secure EU borders (background information)

Schengen

Following the presentation by the Commission of the Schengen Barometer ministers will exchange views on the implementation of the priorities of the Schengen Council cycle. The priority which will be examined at this Council meeting is increasing the effectiveness of return systems. Ministers are expected to tackle challenges – such as a lack of resources, a lack of cooperation by countries of origin and transit and the insufficient use by member states of information exchange tools (e.g. SIS) – and debate how the EU can support member states in addressing them.

Ministers will also  be invited to adopt a decision setting out recommendations based on the 2024 thematic Schengen evaluation on returns. These recommendations propose solutions to address the main bottlenecks identified in the thematic evaluations, focusing on the key stage of the return process. They emphasise the importance of adequate and proactive planning of resources, efficient coordination and coherence of actors and procedures at both national and European levels.

The Schengen area explained (background information)

Migration

When it comes to migration ministers will in particular discuss the external dimension. The migration related implications of the regime change in Syria will be among the discussion points.

EU migration and asylum policy (background information)

EU asylum rules (background information)

Internal security

Ministers will exchange views on the impact of the current geopolitical situation on EU’s internal security. The focus of the discussion will be on Syria and Ukraine.

The ministers’ working lunch will take place together with ministers in charge of security in 16 countries that participate in the Latin American Committee for Internal Security (CLASI). The goal of the exchange between EU and CLASI ministers is to enhance law enforcement cooperation at regional and bi-regional level in order to address internal security threats posed by transnational organised criminal networks. It will also be the occasion to agree on the new EU-CLASI joint declaration and a roadmap to implement operational cooperation priorities in 2025-2026.

The presidency will also present a report to take stock of the implementation of identified priority actions contributing to the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.

EU drugs policy (background information)

The EU’s fight against organised crime (background information)

High-level group on access to data for effective law enforcement (European Commission) 

Practical information

• Meeting n°4082
• Location: Brussels

Preparatory documents

• Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities 
• Provisional list of A items, addition 1 
• Provisional agenda