Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlines positions on migration situation
At its extraordinary meeting on 3 March, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for this week’s meetings of the Council of the European Union on the current migration situation at the Turkish-Greek border and the conflict between Turkey and Syria.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council will meet for an extraordinary meeting on 4 March to discuss the migration situation at the EU’s external borders. This is especially due to Turkey’s announcement that it will no longer prevent migrants and asylum seekers from entering Europe. The Council is set to issue a joint statement on the situation on behalf of the EU Member States. Finland is prepared to participate in the efforts to assist Greece as required by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
At Greece’s request, a formal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council will be held in connection with the informal meeting of foreign ministers in Zagreb on 6 March. At the meeting, the Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the situation in Syria and Turkey and aim to issue a joint statement on the matter on behalf of the EU Member States. In Finland’s view, the main focus of the statement must be on the humanitarian crisis, and it must urge all parties in the Syrian war to commit themselves immediately to appeasing the situation and advancing the political process within the framework of the UN.
The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs stated that Member States facing migratory pressure – Greece in particular, but also Bulgaria – must receive effective support through joint European measures. Finland has already committed to receiving 175 refugees from the Mediterranean. The EU must continue to require Turkey to properly implement the 2016 EU-Turkey migration agreement.
Finland supports a comprehensive European approach to migration issues. Alongside temporary support measures, it is important to work resolutely to find a more permanent solution so that the common EU systems are able to function in situations of both normal and high migratory pressure.
Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Matti Niemi, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 45 679 1717, Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319