Upcoming EU summit to focus on Britain, migration issues

Heads of state or government of the European Union (EU) member states are to convene a summit on Feb. 18-19, during which they will seek to agree on a new settlement for Britain within the EU.

According to an EU press briefing on the summit, the discussions will held on the basis of the proposal put forward by European Council President Donald Tusk and will focus on those issues which remain open after extensive consultations and several meetings of the representatives of the member states.

"The aim is to find mutually satisfactory solutions in the four areas of concern raised by UK Prime Minister David Cameron: economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty and social benefits and free movement," according to an EU press release on the summit, noting that the new settlement expected to be agreed on includes a legally binding decision by the 28 European leaders.

The summit will also focus on issues including migration, Syria and Libya.

The leaders will discuss all the elements of the EU's response to the migration and refugee crisis, focusing particularly on the state of implementation of the orientations agreed in December.

The summit is expected to underline the need to protect external borders, fully apply the Schengen Borders Code and further accelerate work on the European Border and Coast Guard proposal.

The EU leaders are expected to welcome access for Syrian refugees to Turkey's labor market and initial steps to implement the EU-Turkey Action plan, while calling for further efforts to stem migration flows from Turkey and tackle traffickers and smugglers networks.

The European leaders are also expected to raise concerns about the continued migrant flow along Western Balkans route and discuss tailor-made packages of incentives that are currently being developed for specific third countries to ensure effective returns and readmission. Enditem