04 March 2015
The European Commission today launched its work on a comprehensive European Agenda on Migration. The College of Commissioners held a first orientation debate on key actions to step up the EU's efforts to implement the existing tools and cooperation in managing migration flows from third countries.
For the first time, managing migration better is an explicit priority of the European Commission, as presented in the political guidelines of President Juncker, A new start for Europe. Migration is a cross-cutting issue, involving different policy areas different actors, both inside and outside the EU. The new structure and working methods of the European Commission are a first step at addressing the challenges and opportunities of migration in a truly comprehensive way.
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: "Managing migration well is a challenge for Europe as a whole. It is now time for a fresh approach in the way we work together: we must make better and more coherent use of all our tools, agree common priorities and pool more resources at EU and national levels to achieve real solidarity and a better sharing of responsibility between Member States. In May we will present a new migration agenda with an improved governance to strengthen our asylum system, set a sound course on legal migration, act more vigorously against irregular migration and ensure more secure borders."
High Representative Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "We need to be effective, as Europeans, on the immediate response and at the same time to address the root causes, starting from the crises spreading at our borders, most of all in Libya. That's why we are increasing our work with origin and transit countries to provide protection in conflict regions, facilitate resettlement and tackle trafficking routes."
