Minister Mrs Helen McEntee, TD represented Ireland at the informal meeting of Home Affairs Ministers held in Lille, Hauts-de-France region in northern France. This was the first meeting of Home Affairs Ministers of the French EU Presidency, which began on 1st January 2022.
Attending the meeting, the Minister stated:
“I am delighted to attend the first meeting of Home Affairs Ministers hosted by France since they have taken over the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The opportunity to meet in person is welcome as we emerge from the COVID19 pandemic and the Presidency included a number of key items on the agenda.”
Items for discussion on the agenda included the security of European borders; the future of civil protection in Europe in the face of climate change; the fight against terrorism and radicalisation, and the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’.
While attending the informal meeting, Minister McEntee also had an introductory bilateral meeting with the new German Federal Minister of the Interior, Frau Nancy Faeser.
Speaking on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Minister stated:
“Ireland welcomes the efforts that the French Presidency are making to progress migration and asylum reform. Ireland has always supported EU efforts to deal with this issue in a comprehensive and holistic way and the approach being taken is balanced and pragmatic. The focus on specific aspects of the Pact presents an opportunity to build trust and introduce much needs reforms while also making sure to find the right balance between responsibility and solidarity.”
The informal meeting of Justice Ministers also took place in Lille on 3rd and 4th February.
Items on the agenda included:
* an exchange on the fight against hate.
* systems for alerting the public in the event of child abduction.,
* recognition between Member States of parenthood established within the European Union.
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