EU leaders have agreed tougher measures against illegal migration. Ursula Von der Leyen: "We will act to strengthen our external borders"
European Union leaders agreed at the summit in Brussels on a series of measures aimed at reducing the number of migrants arriving illegally on EU territory, dpa and Agerpres reported on Friday. In the final statement, the 27 European leaders ask the Commission to "fund measures that contribute directly to the control of the EU's external borders".
"We will act to strengthen our external borders and to prevent illegal migration," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the summit in the early hours of Friday morning. The agreed measures include initiatives to strengthen infrastructure protection on the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, through surveillance cameras and watchtowers with electronic surveillance. EU states also want to facilitate mutual recognition of returns, in an attempt to increase their number, Von der Leyen said. The heads of state and government in the EU affirmed their will to use "all relevant instruments" to determine - mainly through restrictive measures in terms of visas or development aid - countries of origin and transit to take back their nationals. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned of a "fortress Europe". “We can ask (countries) to take in illegal migrants, but we have to provide pathways for legal migration. First, because Europe needs migrants. And secondly, because it's the best way to deal with our partners around the world," Borell said. At the summit, EU states largely approved the Commission's plans to allow more flexible subsidies for green technologies to help European industry compete with the US and China, dpa notes. According to the declaration adopted on Friday, EU states must be able to offer tax benefits for industries of strategic importance. EU leaders also called on Serbia and Kosovo to normalize relations after recent tensions.
