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Leaders of EU Member States discussed migration

valtioneuvoston viestintäosasto
Publication date 24.6.2018 21.32 | Published in English on 25.6.2018 at 15.03
Press release 326/2018
Kuva: Euroopan komissio

In an informal working meeting on Sunday 24 June, the heads of sixteen EU Member States sought ways for better managing migration.

They discussed external measures and external border surveillance as well as internal measures.

The discussions underlined the importance of incorporating all these dimensions in the solution and that all Member States are jointly responsible for finding a solution to the migration issue.

“We must try to find a comprehensive solution for managing migration. The objective is to bring relief to those in distress and in this way reduce their need to leave home,” Prime Minister Sipilä said.

In the context of external questions, different arrangements with countries of origin and countries of transit were addressed, including ‘regional disembarkation centres’, which it was decided would require further examination.

“Finland has accepted refugees directly from UN refugee camps for many years already. This way we can help those in the most difficult situation -  and in such a way that smugglers and criminals cannot profit from it. This a practice I would be happy to see becoming more widespread,” Sipilä said.

The purpose of this informal working meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government was to consolidate views ahead of a European Council meeting next week. They will be discussing migration in the European Council meeting on Thursday 28 June.

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, Riikka Pakarinen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 580 0833, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office

Prime Minister Sipilä being interviewed by the media after the meeting

Photos of the working meeting by the European Commission Audiovisual Services