Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou underlined the need for the EU to take a more active approach towards third countries, which constitute the main countries of origin and transit for irregular migrants.
He made the remark during his intervention at the informal Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs of the EU Council of Ministers in Logrono, Spain.
The informal Meeting takes place between the 20th and 21st of July under the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council.
On Thursday, the Home Affairs ministers discussed the next steps to complete the Migration and Asylum Pact, focusing on the proposal for crisis management and leveraging migration.
A press release issued by the Ministry of the Interior said the ministers exchanged views on the external dimension of migration, emphasising closer cooperation with countries of origin and transit as a mechanism to ensure the resilience of the Union and protect it from migratory flows.
During his intervention Ioannou spoke about a common understanding and approach among member states towards a more comprehensive and holistic management of migration.
He said Cyprus has repeatedly stressed that the resolution of the migration issue cannot and should not be limited to repressive measures taken in member states.
As we are dealing with an international phenomenon, the Minister added, targeted measures on the external dimension must be adopted by the Union with the main goal of reducing and preventing migration inflows, enabling their management by the first-reception member states.
Referring to the increasing number of migrants observed in Cyprus recently, Ioannou noted the necessity for a more proactive approach towards third countries, which constitute the main countries of origin and transit for irregular migrants.
The goal, he added, is to build relationships and provide incentives to these third countries so that they can act as partners of Europe in this endeavour.
In this context, the minister spoke of the importance of action plans and, by extension, the need for the speedy completion of the specific Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean, indicating that the strength of the member states under the umbrella of the Union is multiplied, "and therefore our aim should be to take institutional initiatives from the EU."
Ioannou also met with his Greek counterpart, Minister of Migration and Asylum, Dimitris Keridis, with whom they discussed enhancing cooperation between Greece and Cyprus on immigration matters. They also discussed putting forward positions within the framework of the MED5 cooperation, as Mediterranean frontline member states facing increased migratory flows.
Source: Cyprus News Agency