| 26 February 2010 Home Affairs ministers approved, after a public debate, an Internal Security Strategy for the European Union. Related to that, they also adopted an institutional decision on setting up the Standing Committee on operational cooperation on internal security (COSI). On migration issues, the Council adopted conclusions on 29 measures for reinforcing the protection of the external borders and combating illegal immigration. Ministers also discussed the issue of visa waiver reciprocity with Canada and held a first orientation debate on an European Pact Against Drug International Trafficking. Under the agenda item EU-US relations, the Council heard from the Commission and discussed about the way forward regarding the cooperation with the US on the processing and the transfer of financial messaging data for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP). In the margin of the Council session, the Mixed Committee (the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) examined the state of play concerning the development of the Schengen Information System II (SIS II). The committee heard also a presentation from the Commission about a draft regulation amending the rules on the Agency FRONTEX and a second presentation from the Agency's director on its 2010 Work Programme. Under any other business and over lunch, ministers discussed the issue of visas in relation with Libya. Important items adopted by ministers without discussion include the Council's position and a statement of the Council reasons concerning a regulation on establishing a European Asylum Support Office (EASO) as well as a decision determining the seat of the office. JHA_Concl.pdf
| 
