Nicholas Ioannides briefs EU body on external borders, Migration and Asylum Pact implementation, legislative work

Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides participated in the proceedings of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels.

During the Council’s discussions on 8 December, the Deputy Minister, after thanking the Danish Presidency for its excellent cooperation and contribution, briefly presented the work programme of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency in the field of migration. He referred to the need for strong external borders, the timely and coordinated implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, as well as the continuation of legislative work in a constructive manner.

He also informed his counterparts of the dates of the upcoming meetings, namely the informal JHA Ministers’ meeting on 21–23 January in Nicosia, the two JHA Councils in March and June in Brussels and Luxembourg respectively, the informal ministerial meeting on 12 June in Nicosia for the entry into force of the Migration and Asylum Pact, and the EU–US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial meeting on 25–26 June, also in Nicosia. Concluding, he expressed his expectation of welcoming his counterparts to Cyprus next month.

Earlier, the ministers of the 27 Member States reached a common position on three important legislative proposals concerning the revision of the concept of “safe third country,” the adoption of a European list of “safe countries of origin,” and the Returns Regulation. Under the new provisions, faster and more effective procedures will be possible both for the processing of international protection applications and for returns.

With the reform of the safe third country concept, Member States will be able to reject applications as inadmissible and return applicants to third countries through simplified procedures. At the same time, the new European list of safe countries of origin allows for accelerated procedures and quicker returns for applicants originating from countries where there is no generalised risk of persecution. This is an important step in implementing the Migration and Asylum Pact.

On the sidelines of the Council’s work, the Deputy Minister held bilateral meetings and contacts with the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Spain, Elma Saiz, French Deputy Interior Minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, and Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior, Daniel Mitov.

In addition to exchanging views on issues of common interest, the Deputy Minister also briefed his counterparts on the work programme of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency in areas falling within his portfolio.

 

 

(Sources: CNA, X)