Lepik von Wirén: it is important that the European migration crisis is solved in a comprehensive, balanced and solidarity-based way

Met dank overgenomen van Ests voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2017 i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 8 februari 2017.

Foreign Ministry’s Acting Undersecretary for European Affairs Aino Lepik von Wirén gave a speech today, on the opening day of the follow-up meeting of the Valetta Summit on migration in Malta, that focused on solving the European migration crisis. According to Lepik von Wirén, it is important for Estonia that the crisis is solved in a comprehensive, balanced and solidarity-based way. “The whole union’s stability and key to security lies in the unity of the EU. Therefore Estonia also contributes to finding solutions and implementing them,” she said.

“It is crucial to ensure full control over the Union’s external borders and to broaden the EU consensus on migration and asylum policy that applies the principles of responsibility and solidarity. Also, it is important to cooperate with countries of migration origin and transit in Africa, including in fight against human trafficking and readmission of illegal migrants,” Lepik von Wirén emphasised. “It is also important to promote education and youth employment that will support economic growth and increase general well-being in African countries,” she added.

Countries taking part of the he follow-up meeting of the Valetta Summit on migration include all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, 35 African countries that are included in the Khartoum and Rabat processes, regional organisations, the UN organisations for migration and the EU institutions. The expected result of the meeting is a summary report on the execution of the action plan adopted at the Valletta Summit on migration in November 2015. Conclusions of the meeting also include future directions for sustainable solutions for the root causes of the European migration crisis.

Additional information:

Sten Juur

Communication Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

(+372) 637 7627

(+372) 5824 6622

press@mfa.ee

www.vm.ee