The Estonian Ambassador to the OSCE Eve-Külli Kala affirmed at a high-level Mediterranean Conference in Palermo today that Estonia pays great attention to migration during the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The ambassador said that Estonia contributes to solving the migration crisis and to improving security and safety in Europe. “It is important that Europe continues to implement a comprehensive and balanced migration policy. This covers solving the root causes of migration in cooperation with countries of origin and transit, strong protection of external borders, return of illegal refugees and setting up a resilient asylum system,” Kala noted.
Talking about the security and safety of Europe, Kala emphasised that solving the migration crisis must start from crisis hotspots, which is why it is essential that the migration and refugee policies are developed in the UN framework and that cooperation with African countries is based on mutual partnership. “A key priority of the EU-Africa Summit taking place in November is youth. Supporting their education, innovation and entrepreneurship will contribute to safer future on both continents,” Kala said.
The OSCE Mediterranean Conference taking place in Palermo from 24 to 25 October is organised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Participants of the conference are representatives of the OSCE, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and foreign and deputy foreign ministers from many countries of Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm7ADWmy
Additional information:
Juhan Mellik
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Media Adviser, Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 637 7627
+372 5093439