Today we had a constructive exchange of views on the European Agenda on Migration and the implementing measures that the Commission has proposed.
This will pave the way, I hope, to an agreement at the European Council on the principle.
And I particularly welcome the Luxembourgish presidency’s announced intention to conclude the negotiations on the relocation and resettlement mechanisms by the end of July.
Our discussions were not a minute too early if we recall that more than 100,000 people have arrived at our southern borders since the beginning of the year – and they continue to come.
Today, I repeated to the Ministers what I have been saying in the last few weeks: the European Agenda on Migration is a finely balanced package, not an à la carte approach.
The proposals that we have put forward are an expression of solidarity and responsibility.
While Member States agreed that we need to express solidarity – let me remind them again that solidarity doesn’t come in pieces.
We have made progress today but we are not there yet.
It’s time that we look beyond national interests, and avoid a lowest common denominator bargaining or finger-pointing.
What is at stake here is the very core of our European unity and collaboration.
We have no other choice but to find a solution at European level.
That is why I am happy to announce that we agreed to step up our efforts to increase the effective returns of irregular migrants, to prevent further secondary movements and to swiftly develop the concept of hotspots that we proposed.
In the coming days, however, we will continue to push forward for a comprehensive and bold agreement on migration in order to:
establish a balanced but mandatory emergency intra-EU relocation scheme
launch an EU-wide resettlement scheme and move ahead
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to see that Member States agree on the principles, but words are not enough.
Now is the moment for joint action.
We should not waste any more time.
We must rise to the occasion and deliver results.
The Commission will not rest until we find a viable agreement.
I also want to add that we had a constructive discussion on security and the fight against terrorism, and that we reached an agreement there. The Council conclusions adopted today reflect the 3 priorities from the European Agenda on Security: terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime.
Finally, I would like to thank our Latvian colleagues for an excellent Presidency. Many challenges have come our way, but we always collaborated in a constructive and fruitful manner.
Thank you