00:30En el mundo de la Unión Europea, algunos dirán que es el mayor cambio en la política de migración en
00:36décadas.
00:38¿Cuándo esperas ver los resultados de esto?
00:42Porque sabemos que en el momento, solo 27% de los migrantes que se han querido regresar
00:47son realmente regresando a sus países de origen.
00:50Claro, esto es un tema crucial para la Unión Europea, los Estados Unidos y nuestros ciudadanos europeos.
00:57Así que queremos concluir las negociaciones con el Parlamento Europeo y la Comisión
01:04para hacer una base legal, una nueva frameworka para aumentar el número,
01:13tanto el número y el rato de ingresos, porque, como mencionabas, los rato de ingresos.
01:20Y es bastante importante tener un sistema efectivo de ingresos,
01:26en order for the general, overall European migration policy to function properly.
01:35Thus, we believe that the missing piece of the EU Pacto on Migration and Asylum,
01:40namely the return regulation that we agreed on Monday,
01:45will contribute to the effectiveness of our migration policy.
01:49Let's get into the details of this, because for our viewers at home, it might be a bit confusing,
01:55but this is about making sure that those people who are ordered to leave,
01:59because they don't have the legal right to stay, they have not been granted asylum,
02:03to go to their home countries.
02:05But isn't it true that the problem in many cases is that those home countries,
02:10the countries of origin, are not accepting those migrants back?
02:13And if so, what do these new rules do to tackle that issue?
02:18Well, this is part of the problem, namely countries that do not accept their nationals.
02:23The other problem, or aspect of this problem,
02:27is the fact that third-country nationals do not cooperate with member states in order to repatriate.
02:36Therefore, the new regulation envisages measures that would accept pressure on individuals
02:46to collaborate with member states.
02:49For instance, there will be stricter detention rules and law guarantee bans
02:55that will actually push, to put it this way, third-country nationals to work with member states
03:04and accept their repatriation.
03:06And when it comes to third countries that do not accept their nationals,
03:09we're actually discussing measures like trade agreements or visa measures
03:16in order to make those third countries to work with us,
03:21so as to improve the return rate.
03:23Yes.
03:24At the heart of this, obviously, are the new return hubs.
03:28So these would be centres that the EU can build in countries outside the EU,
03:34provided they strike a bilateral deal with that country in question.
03:38And any migrant that has rejected asylum could be sent there, essentially.
03:43Isn't there a risk that these people could become stuck in a legal limbo,
03:48for example, if their countries of origin do not accept them back?
03:50Well, of course, the main issue we've been trying to deal with
03:54is the fact that third-country nationals do not have a legal right
03:59to stay in the European Union.
04:01Therefore, they have to depart.
04:03So if they're not collaborating with us or the country of origin won't accept them,
04:10then we have to find a solution.
04:12And this solution is a so-called return hubs.
04:15And something that is quite important to everyone,
04:19to Member States and the Commission,
04:21is that the human rights should be upheld and safeguarded.
04:25How will that be ensured?
04:26And that is why one of the means to ensure this
04:30is the engagement of international organisations,
04:33such as the UNHCR and International Organization of Migration.
04:38And, of course, we'll be monitoring the situation.
04:42We don't want to punish those people.
04:46We just want to make sure that those who have no right to remain in the European Union
04:51will depart and will protect our asylum systems from misuse.
04:58If there is a case where there is a return hub
05:01where basic rights are not being upheld,
05:04what then happens to these people?
05:06There will be safeguards in the agreements
05:09concluded between member states and the third countries hosting such centres,
05:17which will stipulate the details of what's happening
05:21in case there's a human rights violation.
05:24But in any case, these are still, there are no tangible results.
05:30We've just been discussing some ideas.
05:32But now that the regulation has been agreed,
05:37we'll start delving into the matter in order to adopt more tangible measures.
05:46Because we are talking as well about children,
05:47and accompanied children are excluded.
05:49But if they are with their families,
05:52they can also be sent to these return hubs.
05:55These minors, of course, cannot be blamed for being irregular migrants.
05:59They are minors, they are with their families,
06:02but yet they are being sent to these camps.
06:05Are you concerned about their safety, their well-being?
06:09Yeah, I mean, I mentioned that earlier,
06:11that upholding human rights is a red line for everyone.
06:15We don't want any violations of EU and international law.
06:19But at the same time, we have to strike a balance
06:22between illegal stay and the need to uphold human rights.
06:27Therefore, before a family is being sent to an accommodation centre,
06:32a return hub, we will examine all relevant aspects.
06:36And one of them is the best interest of the child.
06:39So all these factors will be taken into consideration
06:43prior to receiving, to making a decision of sending families to return hubs.
06:49What would you say to those critics that say that
06:51with the fixation on irregular migration,
06:54that the EU is losing its moral compass?
06:57Well, I would disagree with this,
06:59because it's not just about irregular migration.
07:02And as a matter of fact,
07:04there are several provisions in the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum
07:08that actually enhance the protection of individuals,
07:11such as the provision of legal counselling
07:14and the establishment of a monetary mechanism for human rights.
07:17And other than that, in parallel,
07:20we've been working on creating legal pathways for migration
07:24through concepts like the EU talent pool,
07:29through our visa policies.
07:30We'd like to open up legal pathways.
07:32And this way, we believe that we will tackle
07:36the regular migration facilitated by criminals' marketing networks,
07:40because that's the main problem.
07:42Just briefly on the return hubs before we move on,
07:44will the Cypriot government be looking to establish these hubs itself?
07:48Well, we haven't discussed this yet.
07:51Of course, there was no legal basis until recently.
07:54There have been some discussions within the union,
07:59between member states.
08:01And now that we've got our legal basis,
08:04of course, we're interested in participating in discussions
08:08with other member states so as to find solutions
08:12and implement these provisions.
08:15Because we know there are five member states
08:16that already said that we're exploring this,
08:18including the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Austria.
08:22And what countries do you think could be possible partners here?
08:28Because, you know, we are talking about countries
08:32that must have some kind of democratic standards,
08:34yet these are countries that are willing to accept
08:37these rejected asylum seekers.
08:40Who do you see as possible partners in this?
08:43Well, I cannot refer to specific countries,
08:46but what you described actually is what the regulation envisages,
08:51that the countries where return hubs will be established
08:56should safeguard, protect and observe human rights.
09:01So these are the criteria set by the regulation.
09:04I want to ask you about the situation of Cyprus.
09:06It could be described as a frontline state
09:08when it comes to migration.
09:09How concerned are you about instability in the Middle East
09:13and the potential impact on migration flows,
09:15particularly, of course, the situation in Lebanon?
09:18Well, indeed, Cyprus is a frontline member state
09:20that has received massive migratory flows over the last years.
09:24And that is why our government has adopted strict measures
09:29in order to reduce irregular flows.
09:30And we've actually managed to do so.
09:33We managed to reduce irregular flows by nearly 90%
09:37over the last three years.
09:38But as you mentioned, we're in a volatile region.
09:41So we always remain vigilant, lest a new crisis erupts,
09:47a new refugee crisis erupts in the region.
09:50And, of course, unfortunately, we've seen conflicts in the region,
09:54in Iran, in Lebanon.
09:56So far, no migratory flows have been created.
10:01We've received no migrants from this region.
10:05And in any case, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum
10:10also stipulates measures for crisis management.
10:15It's the first time that we've got such a comprehensive legal framework
10:19in order to address this foreign issue.
10:21Finally, Minister, before we finish, there is now a discussion,
10:25and I know you'll be discussing this with your EU counterparts this week,
10:29about whether the EU should continue to provide temporary protection
10:33to Ukrainian men, young men, approaching the age of conscription.
10:39Do you think that there should be a shift in these rules?
10:44Because Chancellor Mertz of Germany, for example,
10:45has been calling on this to avoid a situation
10:48where men approaching the conscription age are leaving Ukraine in mass.
10:52Well, as you know, protection to Ukrainian citizens,
10:59Ukrainian nationals, has been extended for a year to spring 2027.
11:05But, of course, we have to discuss the future, as you mentioned.
11:09And that's what we're planning on doing in Luxembourg
11:13in order to listen to member states, listen to their concerns,
11:18to their views, and discuss with the Commission the way forward.
11:22We've made no particular decisions so far,
11:25and it's a first-class opportunity during the Council
11:29to exchange views and somehow decide on the way forward
11:35regarding this important issue.
11:37But our support to Ukraine is there.
11:43Nothing has changed concerning this.
11:47But at the same time, we need to see how things will evolve in the coming years.
11:54Okay, Minister, thank you so much.
11:56Thank you.
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