The Netherlands has taken over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will try to stick to the Trio-programme "Taking forward the strategic agenda" agreed with Slovakia and Malta and with the Strategic Agenda itself agreed by the European Council in June 2014.

Migration and international security are top priorities of the Dutch Presidency. In the field of migration, the Trio programme refers inter alia to the following priority areas:

• European Agenda on Migration, including the review of the Blue Card Directive and new approach to legal migration, the evaluation and possible amendments to the Dublin regulation, further work on the EU relocation mechanism, efforts to enhance resettlement capacities, proposals for strengthening the role of EASO, the effectiveness of the Schengen area, a proposal to amend the asylum procedure directive to strengthen safe country of origin provisions, work related to irregular migration including return and readmission, work emanating from the action plan against migrant smuggling, proposals for enhanced protection schemes in the proximity of the EU, migration action plan with Turkey.
• Reinforcement of Frontex, including in the context of discussions over the development of a European Border and Coast Guard System.
• Smart Borders proposals, including the Entry/Exit System and Registered Traveller Programme
• Implementation of the Common European Asylum System, including regulation on the international protection of unaccompanied minors
• A simplified Union Visa Code and Touring visa regulations
• Visa facilitation and liberalisation agreements
• Enlargement of the Schengen area
• Europol Regulation
• Passenger Name Records directive and agreements

Further information

• Dutch presidency Memo (attached)
• Trio programme (attached)
• Trio programme press release (attached)
• Website of the Netherlands Presidency 2016
• Strategic Agenda for the Union in times of agenda (attached)