The extremely important meeting of Interior Ministers in Athens started today to discuss measures and security of the EU's external borders.
In his opening remarks, EU Vice President Margaritis Schinas made clear the EU's commitment to the need for Europe to act collectively and in an organised manner to tackle migration. With clear and unequivocal statements, the European Vice President sent a strong message that without secure external borders - reinforced with all necessary security systems to prevent irregular migrants from illegally entering Member States, the goal of effective management cannot become a reality. He also spoke about the necessity of making returns a reality in all Member States and concluded with a strong warning to those third countries that either choose not to cooperate or continue to instrumentalise the migration issue that they will face the consequences of such a decision. Nikos Nouris put forward specific recommendations for the strengthening of the European external borders and the Green Line, which is not an external border, including:
- the substantial financial support of the CMs but especially Cyprus in order to strengthen with appropriate measures the Green Line through which 95% of irregular migrants pass in the areas controlled by the Republic,
- the introduction of mechanisms to control departures from third countries and the exemplary punishment of traffickers who promote these departures,
- the immediate promotion of return agreements, not piecemeal but under the umbrella of the European Commission itself, with third countries and countries in the process of accession, while enhancing the role of FRONTEX, EUROPOL and EUROJUST.
- the imposition of sanctions on airlines proven to be involved in the illegal trafficking of migrants.
- the promotion of the Cyprus proposal for a change in the asylum application procedure to be submitted outside the European Union at points to be predetermined in the countries of origin or trafficking.
In conclusion, the Minister of Interior, at the end of his mandate at the Ministry of Interior, thanked all his fellow Ministers, as well as the leadership of the European Commission, both for the substantial support and assistance to Cyprus and for the very constructive cooperation during his presence at the Ministry of Interior.
At the end of the Conference, a joint declaration is expected to be co-signed by the Member States.
(MB/SX)
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