Press Releases

Firstly, thank you for the invitation to the MED5 Meeting. It is the second time I am taking part in this very open discussion and this open discussion here at the MED5 is a really good base for the Council discussion next week in Luxemburg. I hope for such an open discussion there also because it is really necessary for all of us.

The EU as a whole is again under a high migration pressure. For sure Greece, Cyprus Spain, Italy, Malta, but not only these countries. We can feel the pressure in all corners of Europe, also in Central Europe, including my country, the Baltic or Germany. This is the reason why we have to discuss about a truly European solidarity. 

The Czech Republic, as the Presidency, prepared a proposal which will be discussed in the Council Meeting in Luxemburg next week and we asked all member states for their statements and we are trying to accommodate their opinions into our proposal.

We are trying to find a compromise and we also feel the need of the MED5 Countries. So in our proposal we speak not only about flexible solidarity but also about flexible responsibility.

And it is the new aspect of this proposal and it is based on the Declaration of the French Presidency on solidarity. We, as the Czech Republic, made one step yesterday: it was our financial support to Cyprus in returns. And it is also one of the moments when we have to show most touched countries of the EU, our solidarity.

We will also commence the third Schengen Council and the main topic will be the situation on the external borders of the EU. We need to intensify our activities in the external dimension. It is the role of the Presidency State. So we are in debate with Turkey, the Balkans, with West Balkan countries, with Serbia. One of the important topics which is crucial also for Cyprus is the instrumentalization of migration. We have to show, as the EU, that we are really prepared to defend ourselves against this type of danger.

The last thing is the question of illegal migration. Last week the Czech Republic organized a big event in Prague on migration, labour, migration management under the European Migration network and it is also one of the directions which should be discussed during our Presidency. We are also in contact with the European Parliament and we want to achieve progress on EURODACT and other proposals based on the French gradual principle. And so this mini package is the way we want to go forward because we want to show at the end of our Presidency some particular concrete results. We are also in close contact with the next Presidencies, so the signing of the road map was at the beginning of September and this road map was debated also with the European Parliament and with the next Presidencies. And it is the base for real progress on migration and asylum Pact. I have been listening very carefully to all problems of MED5 Countries. This week we will work together on such type of compromise which will also be good and positive for MED 5 countries. But as the Presidency country, we have to find a compromise of all countries. When we have this proposal, it will be one of the most important results of our Presidency.

Thank you for your attention.

(EP/NG/IK)