During this meeting, ministers from the socialist political family advocated for better management of EU’s external borders and for deepened cooperation with third countries ensuring both an increased support to those which are confronted with a major influx of refugees and the efficiency of European return policies, and addressing the deep roots of the migratory phenomenon.
French Minister for European Affairs and chair of the Ministers network Harlem Désir stated:
“Important decisions have been taken over the past months to provide the European Union with a more integrated migration and asylum policy. These decisions have now to be fully implemented both in their internal and external dimensions. Proper identification of incoming migrants and asylum seekers, solidarity between Member States and better management of common external border are of utmost necessity. It is an imperative of efficiency and credibility.
In the meantime, Europe has to bring its full support to the countries neighbouring Syria –Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon- which receive the major part of the refugees. These countries are confronted with a challenge they won’t be able to overcome on their own. We owe them our strongest solidarity.”
The meeting was also attended by Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe in Germany, Sandro Gozi, Deputy Secretary for European Affairs in Italy, Nicolas Schmit, Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy in Luxembourg, Hans Dahlgrens, State Secretary for International and EU affairs in Sweden, Ivan Korčok, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Slovakia, Tanja Fajon, Vice President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, Ton Beumer, Deputy Secretary General of the S&D Group in the European Parliament and Yonnec Polet, PES Deputy Secretary General.
