Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Minister for Immigration and Asylum of Luxembourg called for a collective response to migration issues in Europe at the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) of the European Union in Brussels today
Joining the ministers in examining the European system of information and authorisation for travel and the system for recording entry and exit, the Council held a political debate on return of refugees where Minister Asselborn stressed that an effective return policy is essential to preserve the integrity of a system based on legal access routes.
“Without a rigorous return policy, regular access is allowed without consequences and there are insufficient incentives to opt for compliance. The rapid return of irregular migrants alleviates the pressure on our asylum systems, but it also discourages the use of traffickers and helps prevent the death of migrants on the high seas,” he said, insisting on the need for a genuine strategy in this area, including close cooperation with third countries.
Ministers then focused on the implementation of migration policies and relocation.
In this context, Jean Asselborn reasserted that "migration is a global phenomenon and our response to better manage migration flows must therefore also be global, responsible and united."
Concerning the secondment of experts to the EASO and Frontex, Minister Asselborn also insisted that the issue must be dealt with jointly by the entire community.
"It is essential not to let first-line member states bear all the burden. The EU has common external borders and must therefore give its share of solidarity in the management of migratory crises. But the European level can only contribute if it can rely on substantial national efforts, whether in terms of reception and relocation, or deployment to EU agencies.
“Luxembourg is thus committed to fulfilling its obligations and will redouble its efforts to accelerate both the pace of relocations and that of the secondment of experts, despite our limited human resources. As in 2016, we will continue our commitment in 2017, putting several experts and interpreters at the disposal of the agencies.”
Finally, Jean Asselborn stressed that it is crucial that all Member States participate in the relocation effort. "As long as some states want to be exempt from their participation, it will be difficult to defend the common European good of solidarity."
