Today, at the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen, the leaders of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom, in the presence of the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament, set out a number of steps to be taken collectively to help manage the complex challenges of illegal migration.
They underlined the need for a ‘whole-of-route approach’, and for innovative solutions to keep pace with the ever-evolving challenges of illegal migration. They committed to support one another in their efforts, along the following key themes:
-
Take the strongest action against smugglers and secure our borders: ensuring that law enforcement have the powers, data and capabilities to work across borders to target this threat and its enablers effectively, and to manage our external borders. And work together on new ways to target smuggling gangs, such as the use of sanctions regimes.
-
Ensure our legislative frameworks and asylum systems are robust: protecting against exploitation, deterring those trying to undermine our systems, and ensuring international frameworks, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the Refugee Convention, are implemented in a way that safeguards against abuse and so that governments can tackle modern challenges.
-
Take an unequivocal approach to returns: developing common principles using all the tools available – including diplomatic and visa leverage – to enact efficient and effective returns. And forge new and innovative partnerships, including with third countries, to accelerate processing and alleviate domestic pressures.
-
Strengthen migration management at the earliest opportunity: working with countries at source and on transit routes, including supporting the work and mandate of agencies like the IOM and UNHCR, on initiatives spanning themes like development, job creation, education, and voluntary returns, to deliver on mutually beneficial partnerships.
-
Put innovation at the heart of migration reform: recognising that without a system-wide shift in how we approach this issue we will not be able to secure our borders effectively.
New frameworks, partnerships, capabilities and pilots that are fair, regulated and fit for the future need to be taken forward to undermine the smuggling gangs’ model and limit illegal migration.
