Irregular migration “a European challenge”
Irregular migration “a European challenge”
Combating irregular migration is a European challenge that requires a European response, said a joint statement by nine governments, including Cyprus, on Friday during the 11th Summit of the Southern Countries of the EU (Med 9), which took place in Paphos.
The heads of state of Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia and Spain, as well as the foreign minister of Portugal, were all at the Med9 summit in Paphos, where they stressed the importance of a holistic approach “to address the root causes of irregular migration.”
They said they would focus their efforts on dismantling smuggling networks and strengthening border management to "better prevent irregular entries and deaths on all routes."
A joint statement after a day of talks said it was their duty to work together to strengthen partnerships with key countries around the Mediterranean, in Africa and "other key countries of origin and transit, making full and systematic use of the EU's influence to intensify return and readmission policies."
"While respecting international rights and obligations, we will also work to improve the framework conditions for returns in order to increase the return rate of rejected asylum seekers and other third-country nationals without the right to stay in the Union. We will also consider new ways to prevent and combat irregular migration."
The nine governments stressed that significant progress had been made with the adoption of the European Pact on Asylum and Migration and that its effective and timely implementation was a top priority.
The heads of state of Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia and Spain, as well as the foreign minister of Portugal, were all at the Med9 summit in Paphos, where they stressed the importance of a holistic approach “to address the root causes of irregular migration.”
They said they would focus their efforts on dismantling smuggling networks and strengthening border management to "better prevent irregular entries and deaths on all routes."
A joint statement after a day of talks said it was their duty to work together to strengthen partnerships with key countries around the Mediterranean, in Africa and "other key countries of origin and transit, making full and systematic use of the EU's influence to intensify return and readmission policies."
"While respecting international rights and obligations, we will also work to improve the framework conditions for returns in order to increase the return rate of rejected asylum seekers and other third-country nationals without the right to stay in the Union. We will also consider new ways to prevent and combat irregular migration."
The nine governments stressed that significant progress had been made with the adoption of the European Pact on Asylum and Migration and that its effective and timely implementation was a top priority.
"We will also develop legal migration pathways that meet the needs of Member States. Such complex and sensitive issues require the provision of adequate EU resources in the coming years."
The MED9 initiative involves Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Slovenia and France. In addition to King Abdullah, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also attended the meeting in Paphos.
The MED9 initiative involves Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Slovenia and France. In addition to King Abdullah, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also attended the meeting in Paphos.
The next MED9 Summit will take place in Slovenia in 2025 and the next in Croatia in 2026.
Andria Kades is chief reporter for the Cyprus Mail and has worked as a journalist for the newspaper since 2015. She covers the political sphere and is particularly interested in corruption, human rights and mental health.
Image source:
Euronews.com
Image source:
Euronews.com
