Luxembourg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, was in Brussels today to intervene at the EU Ambassadors' Conference.
Minister Asselborn was present at the meeting at the invitation of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Each year the conference brings together EU delegation heads, as well as special representatives and heads of military and civil missions.
The Conference allows stakeholders to examine current international political events and the changes developing within them, whilst exchanging views on the European Union's role in such matters and in the wider world.
Minister Asselborn spoke alongside Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics in a discussion entitled 'Dealing with New Threats and Challenges'.
The Luxembourg Minister stated that in the face of 'an unprecedented migration crisis', the EU needed a specialised European court to categorise international protection cases, with common rules of implementation standardising the length of proceedings and acceptances.
Minister Asselborn then emphasised the constraints of current migration policies and structures, claiming that both the reception capacity of EU countries and the Dublin system, which determines the Member States to accept a refugee, have "reached their limits".
The Minister for Foreign and European Affairs reiterated his words in this week's press conference here in the Grand Duchy, reaffirming the differentiation echoed by Prime Minister Bettel between migrants fleeing persecution and those escaping economic poverty
Asselborn stated that an effective return policy would be imperative in fast-tracking the process and was essential for the operation of 'hot spots' which have been established in Italy and Greece, allowing the system to protect those in need and those who were not considered to fall under the regulations of the Geneva Convention.
Photo by MAEE
