Joint response to the situation in Afghanistan and at the Belarus border

The EU promptly gave a united response to developments in Afghanistan. The Slovenian Presidency organised an extraordinary meeting of home affairs ministers, who unanimously adopted a joint statement on the EU’s common response to the situation in Afghanistan and on potential impact on the security and migration situation in the EU. The ministers advocated the stabilisation of the situation in the region, provision of humanitarian aid to the vulnerable, and support to third countries hosting large numbers of migrants and refugees. This was the first time in a long time that the Council could issue a united position on migration. This firm, united European voice is one of the reasons we are not currently experiencing the increased migratory pressure from Afghanistan that seemed imminent before the meeting. Following the joint statement, a counter-terrorism action plan was adopted and a common approach for enhanced security checks at the EU’s external borders was endorsed.

More at Slovenian Presidency website