Dear all,
We have just had a very fruitful meeting with the Ministers of Interior of our Western Balkans partners, as well with the Ministers Radev, and Minister Kickl, representing the current and upcoming EU Presidencies.
What triggered my initiative to invite the Ministers today, were the recent migratory developments in the Western Balkan region but also that it’s a good momentum to take stock of our joint efforts in the areas of migration, border management and security more generally.
Building on the Western Balkan Strategy and Sofia Summit, and ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Home Affairs Meeting upcoming in October in Tirana, the EU and the Western Balkans are continuously cooperating and in dialogue at all levels.
First, let me stress that we did not gather to discuss a crisis situation: we are nowhere near where we were 3 years ago.
Our cooperation so far, politically but also operationally, has yielded very concrete and tangible results on the ground so far.
We have indeed seen recently some increases in border crossings affecting in particular Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also Albania and Montenegro.
While those numbers are not worrying yet, our aim today was to sustain and step up our efforts, to collectively prevent that the situation deteriorates.
All Western Balkan partners recognise the importance of further enhancing cooperation, in addressing irregular migration risks in order to manage migration in an orderly way, also in view of maintaining and ensuring visa-free mobility.
We are there to support them. They have committed to continue working together in the coming months to better monitor, register and exchange information on migratory flows.
Also to increase cooperation on border management, to enforce and step up returns and readmissions, and to increase efforts to dismantle smugglers and organised crime groups.
Through our regular video conference meeting, we will continue to take stock of developments on the ground.
An important part of our discussions focused on cooperation on security.
Notably joint efforts in addressing the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, preventing violent extremism and radicalisation, and stepping up the fight against firearms and drugs trafficking.
Today’s meeting was important for many reasons, both operational and political.
But above all, it shows how important the EU-Western Balkans relation and cooperation is – on all sides.
Time and time again, together with the Western Balkans we have turned our common challenges into common opportunities.
We are determined to continue doing so. Ultimately, we are all part of the European family.
We must continue to seize this momentum to the fullest, and bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU.
Our cooperation on migration, border management and security is essential in this endeavour.
All these steps that we take together are building on our common past, towards a better common future.
Thank you.