Dear all,
I would like to thank Minister Sommaruga for hosting this third meeting here in Bern.
The Mediterranean Contact Group family is getting larger, with Algeria, Niger, Chad and Mali joining us.
This is testimony of the determination of the European and African countries most directly concerned by the migratory flows across the Central Mediterranean Route to work together and jointly reply to what is a common challenge.
The protection of lives throughout the migratory routes remains our shared priority.
The participation to this forum of the International Organisation for Migration, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as the International Red Cross Committee is a clear indication that we are moving in the right direction.
We are all working towards the same goal.
Collectively we have managed to achieve considerable progress already.
The EU has engaged closely with all the origin, transit and other destination countries, in several fields including:
the improvement of migration management, in the fight against smugglers and traffickers, in assisting stranded migrants, and on addressing root causes of migration.
This has led to an overall decrease of irregular flows across the Central Mediterranean.
The total number of arrivals for this year is 30% less than last year.
Ultimately, we are all working towards improving the situation in Libya and bringing back stability.
Through the Trust Fund, the EU is already supporting Libya’s socio-economic development at the local level and Libyan municipalities in particular.
At the same time, by supporting the work of the International Organisation for Migration, we have been able to assist more than 8,400 migrants to return voluntarily and safely from Libya to their countries of origin this year.
This is triple the number of last year. We know however that we need to do more.
Too many vulnerable migrants and asylum seekers remain stranded and face risks along their migratory path.
This is why I have recommended to Member States to make available at least another 50,000 resettlement pledges over the next two years.
The focus includes key countries along the Central Mediterranean route such as Libya, Egypt, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I want to reiterate once more that the EU is not a fortress.
The EU is and remains a haven for those in need of protection.
In 2016 alone, over 720,000 refugees were resettled or granted asylum in the EU.
We have recently also proposed to enhance legal pathways not just for protection but also through specific pilot labour migration projects with selected countries. The preparatory work is now ongoing for this.
Finally, I welcome the Declaration of Intent agreed today and look forward to continue working closely with our neighbouring partners.