Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen: Credible return policy important for the EU
On 3 March, Finnish Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen participated in the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels. During lunch, the Ministers held a discussion on EU return policy. Finland considers it important that steps be taken to ensure a credible return policy for the EU. A successful return policy is a prerequisite for well-managed migration and for the credibility of the migration and asylum system.
In the discussions, Ms Räsänen proposed that the EU should consider starting negotiations of readmission agreements with new countries.
- It is very important for the EU to have a common and credible policy in this field, too. A large number of Member States consider further development of return policy to be essential when drawing up new strategic guidelines for the JHA sector, said Ms Räsänen.
- From Finland's perspective, voluntary return has always been the primary option. At the moment, we are striving to make this option increasingly attractive by reforming the associated support services.
Bilateral readmission agreements also made
Member States may also agree on return arrangements bilaterally with non-EU countries if the EU does not reach agreement on readmission questions with the country concerned.
- Finland wants to be actively involved in the creation of bilateral arrangements, if efforts to agree on an EU-level arrangement are not successful, said Ms Räsänen.
Finland is currently conducting bilateral negotiations with Afghanistan on questions relating to return. According to Ms Räsänen, third countries should be reminded of the principle established in international law under which each state has the obligation to readmit its own nationals.
The Commission is expected to release a communication on the development of EU return policy in March. Finland looks forward to the Commission's recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of EU return policy and further develop it.
Ms Räsänen also said that readmission issues should be discussed in the context of broader cooperation with third countries. To ensure effective returns, better use should be made of all EU tools available.
Follow-up of action by the Task Force Mediterranean
At the meeting, the Commission briefed the Council about action taken by the Task Force Mediterranean and the associated follow-up.
- I find it extremely important that implementation of the actions proposed in the Commission communication be followed up and their effectiveness systematically assessed, said Ms Räsänen.
The Task Force Mediterranean is a high-level group set up by the European Commission to manage migratory flows in the Mediterranean. Finland contributes to the implementation of the proposals, for example by resettling Syrian refugees within its refugee quota for 2014 and by participating in the work of the EU external borders agency Frontex and the European Asylum Support Office EASO.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 40 720 22 16
