Copenhagen – On Tuesday, July 22, the informal meeting of the interior ministers of EU member states was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, focusing on enhancing civil protection, return policies, and improved management of illegal migration. The Slovak Republic was represented by Lucia Kurilovská, State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior (MV) SR, as reported by TASR.
EU member state representatives acknowledged the necessity of reinforcing civil protection capabilities, as articulated in a press release by MV SR spokesperson Matej Neumann. The statement highlighted the importance of not only material and personnel resources and training but also better coordination across the entire Union.
During the discussions, the effectiveness of the EU Mechanism for civil protection was emphasized, along with the implementation of the approved Union Strategy regarding the bloc’s preparedness. The new approach aims to focus on proactive crisis management, incorporating strategic foresight, early warning systems, and integrated risk assessments.
“Slovakia views this issue as critically important, particularly with the impending reform of crisis management. The increasing number and frequency of threats often surpass the capabilities of individual states. Thus, the coordinating and supportive role of the Commission is irreplaceable. While preparedness demands substantial resources, the costs of being unprepared will be much higher,” stated Kurilovská.
The meeting featured presentations from Cyprus, Denmark, and Italy, which shared their strategies for return policies. This was followed by a discussion on experiences to enhance the efficiency of returning individuals unlawfully residing in the EU.
Eurostat data indicates that only about 25% of third-country nationals unlawfully residing in the EU return to their countries. Consequently, many member states have created specialized offices and return centers to support and incentivize voluntary returns for rejected asylum seekers.
This situation raises the issue of harmonizing legislative approaches at the EU level and among Schengen area states, according to the Slovak Ministry of Interior. Slovakia advocates for a stronger role for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in the return process, with an appropriate enhancement of its mandate, as stated in the release.
“For the European return system to be effective, it’s essential to begin with efforts to minimize unlawful arrivals in the EU. The subsequent step involves collaborating with third countries through both positive and negative incentives, as well as providing comprehensive information about the benefits of voluntary returns,” Kurilovská added.
The Ministry of Interior SR noted that the forthcoming EU return legislation introduces several innovative elements, including penalties for non-cooperation, the establishment of return centers, and the European Commission’s initiative to create a unified list of safe countries of origin. This list is expected to expedite and simplify the evaluation of asylum applications deemed likely unfounded, according to the ministry.
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