Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer said the conference to fight illegal migration via the eastern Mediterranean routes was a success. Austria’s Federal Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer invited representatives of 18 countries in the region, as well as European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and representatives of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex and the European Asylum Support Office to the conference in Vienna.

Federal Minister Seehofer said: “Migration along the Western Balkan route is at the same level as before the coronavirus pandemic. All signs indicate that the pressure will continue to increase. We need to ensure order along the eastern Mediterranean route too, which means helping the countries along this route and working closely together. This conference comes at exactly the right time.”

The countries at the conference adopted the Vienna Declaration, in which they agreed to create a platform for coordinating the fight against illegal migration along the eastern Mediterranean routes. This platform is intended to coordinate measures and cooperation in the key areas of border protection, return, asylum procedures and the fight against human smuggling.

"I strongly support the creation of a coordination platform, because it will reinforce cooperation and can serve as an important early warning system," Federal Minister Seehofer said.

Germany already has liaison officers in Greece and a number of Western Balkan countries; it also provides personnel support for Frontex.

Federal Minister Seehofer said that the agreement was very important also for Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, as he hopes to reach agreement by the end of this year on European Commission proposals for a new common European asylum system.

Federal Minister Seehofer said: "All the EU member states agree that we need a new regulatory framework for migration in Europe. The better we cooperate at the EU’s external borders, on returns and with the most important countries of origin and transit, the less significant the difficult issue of distribution within Europe becomes. Member states are much more willing to show solidarity if there are only two or three hundred thousand persons entitled to protection to be distributed within Europe, rather than a million a year. This is why I plan to concentrate first of all on effective management of the EU’s external borders and on returning those who are not entitled to protection before they cross these borders."

Family photo of particpants of the conference to fight illegal migration via the eastern Mediterranean routes in Vienna, Austria (Larger version opens in new window) Source: BMI/ Karl Schober Particpants of the conference to fight illegal migration via the eastern Mediterranean routes in Vienna, Austria

The European Commission is expected to present its proposals in September. They will encompass legislation on protecting the external borders, on asylum procedures and information-sharing.

Federal Minister Seehofer stressed that the rule of law is non-negotiable: "The right to seek asylum is precious, and one that we as a community of values uphold. We must handle it with care and in full compliance with the rule of law.”

At the conference it was agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in the same format this autumn.