- Introduction This Fifth Progress Report provides an update on the implementation of the Partnership Framework, as well as the actions taken in order to respond to the lessons learned identified in the Fourth Progress Report. Over the summer season, there has been a reduction in the number of crossings of irregular migrants through the Central Mediterranean route. In the months of July and August, 15 373 arrivals were recorded in Italy, compared to 44 846 in the same months in 2016.
Overall, 99 846 migrants have arrived so far in 2017 (until 4 September); in the same period in 2016 115 068 migrants arrived. According to the International Organisation for Migration, 2 410 people have died at sea so far in 2017 while attempting to reach the European shores, but there were only 19 deaths recorded in all of August. These trends reflect the enhanced efforts carried out jointly by Italy and the European Union, in line with the Action Plan on measures to support Italy, to step up cooperation with countries of origin and transit along the route, in particular with Libya, as well as the good collaboration with the Libyan authorities. The initiatives set in motion to reinforce the Libyan Coast Guard's capabilities for maritime surveillance and anti-smuggling are starting to bear fruit. New elements were also added to the ongoing cooperation with Libya, as a new multi-annual project to enhance border surveillance for Libya funded under the EU Trust Fund for Africa was approved in July 2017, for a total amount of EUR 46.3 million.
Since the Fourth Progress Report, arrivals along the Western Mediterranean route have shown an upward trend, with the total number of arrivals to Spain in 2017 up to 16 August reaching 13 826, which represents an increase of 115 % compared to the same period in 2016 (6 409 arrivals), highlighting once again the importance of continuous vigilance against possible emergence of alternative routes.
Significant progress has also been made in establishing migration partnerships with further Western African countries, as part of the effort to reduce pressure on the Central Mediterranean route. In the Action Plan on measures to support Italy, the Commission included resettlement pledging for persons in need of protection in countries along the route, as part of a broader resettlement exercise launched by the Commission for 2018. The pace of implementation of programmes approved under the EU Trust Fund for Africa has further accelerated, with 169 contracts signed for a total amount of over EUR 1.2 billion across the three regions as of 4 September, a progress which should be accompanied by timely project implementation on the ground.
Against this background, a number of weaknesses identified in the previous Reports remain.
In particular, formal cooperation on readmission and return with some of the priority countries has continued to stall. This points to the need to identify and use appropriate incentives to bring to bear in the negotiations on readmission agreements, including through visa policy , or to explore, if necessary, alternative practical arrangements separate from negotiated agreements leading to equivalent results in terms of cooperation on actual returns. The rate of return from Member States remains low, reflecting also the need to step up internal coordination.
Diplomatic contacts and multilateral discussion between the EU, Member States and countries or origin or transit have intensified over the previous months, including with the second meeting of the Contact Group for the Central Mediterranean Route and the Paris meeting of 28 August, reflecting the need for an intensified effort to capitalise on the progress made so far under the Partnership approach and achieve lasting results in terms of migration management along the Central Mediterranean route.