By: Nina Žoher / Nova24tv
After Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn sided with those who support mass migrations of migrants by expressing his support for the admission of tens of thousands of Afghans to the European Union, common sense eventually won. In a joint statement, the Interior Ministers of the EU member states wrote that the EU is determined to prevent the uncontrolled influx of migration from Afghanistan. This is the position taken by Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs. He emphasised that Slovenia is currently not in favour of new humanitarian corridors to Europe, as no one wants a repeat of the 2015 migrant crisis.
As Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz emphasised that they did not want mass migrations to take place again, they found themselves on a chopping board of Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, who accused them of rejecting direct human solidarity. “I hope that there will be opposition to Mr Kurz from Austria and Mr Janša from Slovenia, both of whom are clearly and firmly in line with Orban, Salvini and Le Pen,” he pointed out and made it known that, according to him, the quality of being a European was lost.
Nevertheless, in a recent joint statement, the Foreign Ministers have indicated that they do not want the EU to face uncontrolled migration from Afghanistan again. At the same time, they pointed out that incentives for illegal migration should be avoided. They called for increased support for third countries hosting larger numbers of refugees and migrants. As stated, the evacuation of EU citizens and those Afghans with families who have worked with the EU and Member States remains a priority.
When Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs presented Slovenia’s position on Tuesday that there was no support for opening new humanitarian corridors at the moment, he reminded that in doing so it should not be forgotten to help vulnerable groups – women, children and the elderly. He stressed that if they are on their way from Afghanistan, they urgently need to be offered help. In order to make the necessary assistance available, EU Member States have announced that they will step up their assistance to international organisations based in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.
EU Ministers support aid to third countries in the region, which provide shelter to more migrants and refugees. “These countries also need to be helped to provide adequate reception facilities, and Member States will also voluntarily opt for assistance in the form of permanent relocations,” Hojs added. Commissioner Ylva Johansson, who covers the field of home affairs, did not give specific resettlement figures and emphasised the need for a global agreement on migration, as it is not a challenge that only concerns the Union.
As the EU wants to avoid uncontrolled migration, it will work with other countries to strengthen border management capacity and prevent smuggling of migrants and white goods. EU Ministers called for the strengthening of all relevant agencies. In particular, the Easo Asylum Office, Europol and the Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
Despite loud opposition from the Luxembourg Foreign Minister in favour of immigration, the Ministers managed to find a common language. According to STA, Hojs said that finding a common position was difficult, and the discussion was “very heated” at times. “But in the end, we were able to make a joint statement, which is the most important thing at the moment,” he stressed with satisfaction. In a joint statement, the Ministers called on both the EU and the Member States to do their utmost to ensure that the situation in Afghanistan does not contribute to new security threats to EU citizens.