Conclusions – 19 October 2017 5. The European Council calls for close monitoring of the situation along the Eastern and Western Mediterranean routes in light of recent increases in migration flows. 6. The European Council recalls that addressing the root causes of migration and providing economic and social opportunities in the countries of transit and origin are part of its longterm approach to migration. In this context, the European Council welcomes the recent launch of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which supports investment in African and Neighbourhood countries. It also welcomes the implementation of the Economic Resilience Initiative of the European Investment Bank (EIB), mobilising investments in the Neighbourhood countries. It looks forward to discussing cooperation with African partners at the upcoming African Union-European Union Summit. 7. The European Council reiterates its commitment to the Schengen system and expresses the intention to get "Back to Schengen" as soon as possible while taking proportionate security interests of Member States fully into account. 8. The European Council welcomes the progress achieved so far on the reform of the Common European Asylum System and calls for further convergence towards an agreement which strikes the right balance between responsibility and solidarity and ensures resilience to future crises, in line with its June 2017 conclusions. The European Council will return to this matter at its meeting in December, and will seek to reach a consensus during the first half of 2018. EUCO 14/17 4 EN