Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu said that Romania is ready to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum and has already started activities in this regard, according to an Interior Ministry (MAI) press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

The Ministerial Conference on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, took place on Monday and Tuesday in Ghent, Belgium, with Romania being represented by Catalin Predoiu.

The event brought together ministers of interior or migration from EU member states and Schengen associated countries, representatives of the European Commission and relevant EU Agencies, the press release mentions.

„During the conference, the Romanian representative underlined the complexity of the new legislation in the area of migration and asylum and the importance of good planning of implementation measures and allocation of adequate operational and financial resources. The minister of the Interior highlighted Romania’s efforts to ensure the security of the free movement area after the lifting of internal air and sea border controls on 31 March,” the press release said.

The Romanian official evoked the positive results of the Pilot Project carried out by Romania at the border with Serbia, starting March 2023, as well as the transformation of the fruitful cooperation with the Commission and EU Agencies into a new Cooperation Framework.

In his intervention, Catalin Predoiu also signalled the launch by Romania of an initiative to strengthen regional cooperation to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime, together with the European Commission and the states in the region – Greece – Bulgaria – Hungary – Slovakia – Austria, the MAI said.

„After many years of negotiations, we are fast approaching the expected moment – the entry into force of the migration and asylum reform. This historic reform should not just be adopted only on paper, but should fundamentally change the way we work on the ground, at our borders and on our territory. The focus now shifts to implementing these reforms, and the Ghent Conference is an important first step in this process. I have had a number of meetings with my counterparts in recent times and this topic has always been on the agenda. The involvement of all relevant actors, at political, operational and technical level, is essential for the successful achievement of the objectives pursued, in synergy with adequate financial support. Romania is ready to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum and we have already started activities in this regard,” Predoiu is quoted in the press release as saying.

He added that preventive actions have contributed to a 97% reduction in illegal migration flows.

„In anticipation of the implementation of the reform, over the year 2023, together with the European Commission and EU Agencies we have carried out a Pilot Project at the border with Serbia and demonstrated how very good practice can sometimes prevail over imperfect legislation, which will soon be replaced. Our involvement in this initiative was in line with the active steps our country is taking in regional efforts to reduce illegal migration flows and strengthen the security of external borders. This tool has been very useful and preventive actions have contributed to a 97% reduction in illegal migration flows and a 50% decrease in the number of detected illegal entries. The positive results of the Pilot Project have encouraged us to continue. We have taken a new step by transforming the fruitful collaboration with the Commission and EU agencies into a new Cooperation Framework, which we are already well on track to implement and making progress,” said the Interior minister.

AGERPRES