Minister Rantanen to visit Brussels – Home affairs ministers to discuss several migration issues

The EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on 8 December for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The agenda includes returns of people staying illegally in the EU and implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

Home affairs ministers aim to reach political agreement, known as general approach, on the returns regulation that aims to improve the effectiveness of the return of persons staying illegally in the EU and to prevent unauthorised movements within the Schengen area. For the Member States, the regulation would establish common, clear and up-to-date rules for managing returns.

“It is in the interest of all Member States that the returns regulation enters into force quickly. An effective return policy is essential for a credible European asylum and migration system and a key factor for EU security,” says Minister of the Interior Rantanen.

Finland supports measures to make asylum procedures more effective

A general approach is also sought on two other proposed regulations: one on countries of origin that are safe for asylum seekers and another on safe third countries.

Defining safe countries of origin would speed up the processing of unfounded asylum applications. If an applicant comes from a country considered safe, the application would be examined under an accelerated procedure.

Revising the rules on safe third countries would make it possible, under certain conditions, to declare asylum applications inadmissible in the EU more often and transfer the asylum process to a safe country outside the Union. In future, this option could also apply if the applicant has travelled to the EU via that country or if there is an agreement with the country on the transfer of the asylum process. Currently, Member States can only apply the concept of ‘safe third country’ if the applicant has a previous connection with that country.

“Making asylum procedures more efficient is important for Finland. We support measures that reduce the examination of unfounded applications and increase the use of accelerated procedures,” Minister Rantanen says.

Solidarity is part of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Ministers will also receive an update on the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report. In addition, they aim to reach political agreement on the Annual Solidarity Pool for 2026. 

The Solidarity Pool is part of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which becomes applicable in summer 2026. The Pool is designed to ensure that no Member State faces migratory pressures alone. Finland will participate in the Solidarity Pool with a financial contribution.

Minister Rantanen to visit NATO Headquarters

While in Brussels, Minister of the Interior Rantanen will also visit NATO Headquarters, where she will meet the Assistant Secretaries General responsible for defence planning and hybrid issues, as well as representatives of NATO’s International Staff.

The Ministry of the Interior's branch of government plays a key role in NATO cooperation on resilience as part of the Alliance’s defence and deterrence. Internal security authorities contribute to countering hybrid threats and protecting the population, critical infrastructure and the functioning of society in all security situations.

Inquiries:
Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 40 720 2216, [email protected]