Home affairs ministers to discuss fight against human smuggling and situation in Israel and the Middle East
EU home affairs ministers will gather in Luxembourg on 19 October for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Topics on the agenda include the fight against human smuggling and radicalisation of minors and its prevention. Over lunch, the ministers will discuss the effects of the situation in Israel and the Middle East on the EU's internal security. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.
Europe needs strong external borders and improvements in border control in countries of origin
The ministers will discuss the overall state of the Schengen area and better ways to fight cross-border crime, especially human smuggling. The discussion will be based on the Spanish Presidency's discussion paper and the updated Schengen Barometer.
“We need to step up efforts to prevent human smuggling. As long as it is possible to get to Europe with money, smuggling will continue. I believe that preventing departures more effectively is at the heart of finding a solution,” says Rantanen.
According to the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government, the Government will, in a constructive manner, promote the following issues in EU migration policy: highlighting the significance of strong external borders and developing the Schengen acquis to manage migration, and strengthening the operating conditions for the EU’s external borders and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex.
Finland and Estonia to update colleagues on damage to Balticconnector gas pipeline
At the end of the meeting, the Finnish and Estonian interior ministers will update their colleagues on the damage detected in the Balticconnector gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland on 8 October. Finland and Estonia are cooperating closely in the investigation into the matter.
Inquiries:
Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 40 720 22 16, [email protected]
Communications Unit, Ministry of the Interior, [email protected] (requests for interviews with the Minister)