Minister Van Bossuyt at JHA Council: “No European solidarity without responsibility”

Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is attending today’s meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council in Luxembourg. Ministers will discuss, among other issues, the situation in the Schengen area, cooperation with third countries on returns, and the implementation of the Migration Pact. For Van Bossuyt, the key message is clear: “Europe can only bring migration under control if Member States work together and everyone takes responsibility.”

According to Van Bossuyt, the recent events in Ceuta have once again demonstrated just how closely interconnected the different elements of European migration policy are. What happens at one external border can have consequences for the entire Schengen area. External borders, asylum, returns and solidarity cannot be viewed in isolation. “Europe will only get a grip on migration if we act as one and every Member State applies the European rules. That requires both cooperation and responsibility.”

A stronger Frontex and reinforced external borders

Van Bossuyt therefore wants Europe to strengthen Frontex. In her view, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency needs greater operational capacity and more funding to support Member States in protecting the EU’s external borders, while also taking on a larger role in returns.

“A European external border must genuinely function as a border. Frontex needs to be able to act more decisively to protect our shared external border. And we must be willing to rethink the system itself: anyone who enters European territory illegally should not be able to claim a right of residence. Otherwise, we will continue to attract people, only for them to become caught up in lengthy asylum procedures which, in Belgium, end without protection being granted in almost 80% of cases.”

Greater European pressure on returns

The Irish Presidency has once again placed returns on the agenda. Together with other EU Member States, Belgium wants to make more targeted use of European migration policy instruments to encourage countries to readmit their own nationals.

“Europe has far more leverage than we currently use. Cooperation works both ways. Countries that want to cooperate with Europe must also take back their own nationals when those people have no right to remain here. If they refuse to do so, we must be prepared to use instruments relating to visas, trade or development cooperation.”