Today [Tuesday 21 May] Prime Minister spoke to his counterpart
Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Austria on tackling illegal migration
The leaders agreed that it must be the governments deciding who
enters our countries, not criminal gangs, and stronger action
must be taken to end the vile people smuggling trade.
The leaders committed to implementing stronger frameworks to deal
with migration, and that new innovative solutions are crucial to
this end.
The leaders agreed that working with designated safe third
countries are part of the solution for best protecting Europe
from irregular migratory pressures and preventing people from
making illegal, dangerous journeys – such as the Rwanda style
model.
In that respect, the Leaders agreed that States may develop and
implement solutions to securing their borders and dealing with
challenges like migration, while maintaining full compatibility
with international law. They welcomed the new procedures relating
to Rule 39 interim measures adopted by the European Court of
Human Rights, following consultations with State parties. As
already noted in the Izmir Declaration in 2011, it is essential,
when examining cases related to asylum and immigration, to assess
and take full account of the effectiveness of domestic procedures
and, where these procedures are seen to operate fairly and with
respect for human rights, that the Court should avoid intervening
except in the most exceptional circumstances.
The leaders are acutely aware of dangers of the efforts other
actors will take in instrumentalising migrants to destabilise
Europe and agreed more needed to be done to secure our borders
and strengthen our security.
Both think the answers lay with deeper partnerships with others,
and increasing cooperation with countries involved in all stages
of the migrant journey was essential to tackling this growing
pan-European challenge.
