Portuguese Presidency seeks political commitment on migration

Today, the European Union Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs will be discussing the external dimension of the EU migration policy in the context of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The informal video conference will be chaired from Brussels by the Portuguese Minister for Home Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, and by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell i. The goal of the Portuguese Presidency is clear: “to reach a strong political commitment” on the migration policy issue.

Securing this commitment is one of the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency, seeking to “promote legal migration routes” and “combat human trafficking networks”.

The Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, will also be taking part in this “jumbo” meeting, the name given to EU councils that bring together Ministers with different portfolios.

On the table will be the contributions from the 27 on how the EU and its Member States can improve coordination and cooperation in order to build effective migration partnerships that are mutually beneficial and capable of building bilateral global relations with third countries of origin, transit and destination.

Also on the agenda will be the presentation by Minister Santos Silva of the proposals from the Portuguese Presidency on reinforcing cooperation between the EU and countries in North Africa on issues of justice and home affairs.