EU home affairs ministers to discuss returns and safeguarding the Schengen area
EU home affairs ministers will gather in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 22 January for an informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The home affairs ministers will discuss returns, reintegration and safeguarding the Schengen area. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.
“Persons staying illegally in the EU must return to their country of origin or they will be returned by the authorities. An efficient and effective return policy is a prerequisite for a credible European asylum and migration system and a key factor influencing the security of the entire Union,” says Minister Rantanen.
Finland will constructively promote EU-level measures that enhance opportunities to implement the asylum process and provide international protection in safe third countries. Return hubs to be established outside the EU would constitute a viable tool within the range of means available for returns carried out by the authorities, and would encourage voluntary return.
Finland supports the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex's efforts to improve the effectiveness of returns and increase their overall number as much as possible. Finland also emphasises the Agency’s key role in measures implemented in third countries.
Items on the agenda also include ways to promote returns to Syria and Afghanistan.
The ministers will also discuss safeguarding the security of the Schengen area and, in particular, internal security measures to prevent unauthorised secondary movements within the Schengen area.
Inquiries:
Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 40 720 2216, [email protected]