Date:
12 Jul 2018
Video: https://youtu.be/RE0ThCO1jaY
It is a moment of responsibility. We all know what the guidelines of the leaders are. Now it is up to the ministers and all of us to deliver. Today's issues: border management and returns, original disembarkation options, more and deeper cooperation in fighting smugglers, move forward on the Dublin reform. Today we are going to work together. The spirit that prevails is very, very positive. I was told about the statements made before by my good friend Mr Seehofer; he said that it is a Herculean task. He is right. But I would like to remind everybody that finally Hercules won. So it is up to us to help Hercules to win. We are crossing existential moments in Europe and we have to do whatever we can do in order to safeguard and uphold what has been achieved during the last six years. Migration right now is a catalyst to do more in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity. I'm looking forward to a very fruitful cooperation with my colleagues and I am sure the outcome will be positive.
Q Concrete proposals for disembarkation?
The Commission is always coming forward with very concrete proposals. We have been doing that for the last three years; that is why we are not where we were. We have to work on that. Of course it is obvious that we are open to any new proposals and ideas, and this is what we are going to do today.
Q Return camps for illegal refugees in third countries, you have criticised that.
I did not criticise. I just replied, reacted with the question: does anybody know one country out of Europe, in the periphery of Europe, that is willing to host such a camp? I don't know so far. Let's wait. If it comes up, we are here to discuss. But for the moment there is no concrete proposal, just an idea – and ideas must always be respected.
Q Asylum applications?
Strategy and policy of the EU on this issue is very clear. It is based on values and principles. We are all bound by the Geneva Convention, this is what is guiding us. But we are open to any proposal that might be useful in order to proceed on this road. One of our priorities is to save lives. On the other hand, how to treat these people with dignity. You know what has happened recently. We are definitely in a better position. Before, hundreds of thousands of people had lost their lives. Now, thanks to all the initiatives we have taken, the numbers have gone down, and we believe that even one life lost is one too many. This is our priority. The second is to open regular and legal pathways for the ones that want to come to Europe. Three years [ago] we were taken by surprise, nobody was able to handle this unprecedented phenomenon, neither the EU nor Member States. Now we can do it. Whatever is improving the procedures is welcome. But we should not forget what I told you before: our policy is based on values.
Q Refusing entry in harbours?
Let's be realistic. To refuse entry is a very easy thing to say but very difficult to implement; who is taking the responsibility if one life is lost?