Statement on behalf of 25 EU Member States – UN General Assembly: Secretary-General’s Report on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

– CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY – 

Madam. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Excellencies,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden which are Member States of the European Union, bearing in mind that not all of them are participating in the GCM.

We thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report and for the continued work of the UN Network on Migration.

We are fully committed to protecting human rights of migrants.

The EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, along with the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy and EU Visa Strategy, step up cooperation with international partners taking into account all aspects of migration while strengthening our internal policies.

We must continue to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, including conflict, poverty, human rights abuses, climate change and instability

We strive for a whole-of-government approach to migration by embedding migration-related objectives, such as effective return, in those of other policy areas.

At the same time, credible migration systems require effective action to prevent irregular migration.

The EU-led Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling strengthens cooperation with partner countries, international organisations and the private sector. Efforts to counter traffickers and smugglers must be accompanied by robust protection for victims, including children and women who face heightened risks of exploitation.

To save lives along migration routes, we must strengthen cooperation on search and rescue, improve identification of missing migrants where possible, while addressing the conditions that drive people into the hands of smugglers.

Effective management of external borders, in full respect of international law and human rights, is another important priority. 

We recognise the importance of well-managed, regular pathways, in line with national policies and legislation. Regular migration, when well governed, can contribute to economic growth, innovation and sustainable development in countries of origin and destination alike.

A comprehensive approach to migration management, return, readmission and, sustainable reintegration including non-voluntary returns.

Effective return policies, carried out in full respect of international law, human rights and the obligation of States to readmit their own nationals, are essential to maintaining the integrity and credibility of migration systems. 

Sustainable reintegration should ensure that returns are durable and contribute to development in countries of origin.

We must continue strengthening cooperation between countries of origin, transit, destination and safe third countries to ensure that return and readmission obligations are effectively implemented, including through innovative solutions such as return arrangements and return hubs in third countries.

We remain committed to ensuring that regular migrants have access to decent working conditions, fair recruitment practices and essential services in accordance with applicable domestic laws.

Protecting migrant workers from labour exploitation, strengthening labour inspections, promoting ethical recruitment and ensuring social security rights benefit both migrants and host societies and contribute to social cohesion.

Digital transformation is reshaping migration governance. Innovation can improve efficiency, transparency and service delivery. 

Reliable and comparable data remain critical for informed policymaking. In complement to the excellent work done by the IOM and the UNHCRon enhancing knowledge on migration, we underline the importance of strengthening national capacities for evidence-based implementation and reporting. 

Finally, we condemn any form of instrumentalisation of persons on the move, whatever their status may be. 

The Progress Declaration should:

• Reaffirm the non-legally binding nature of the Global Compact and respect for national sovereignty 

• Call for an increasingly joint One UN approach to create synergies and amplify impacts, grounded in the UN80 initiative and the humanitarian reset;

• Preserve the balanced 360-degree vision of the Compact, ensuring equal attention to prevention of irregular migration, including through tackling root causes, countering migrant smuggling and combating trafficking in human beings, saving lives, effective return and reintegration and optimising regular pathways in line with national competences. Recall support for comprehensive and whole-of-route approach to migration management;

• Support  responsibility of all actors of migration governance, including countries of destination, transit, origin and safe third countries, based on comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation;

• Strengthen operational cooperation along migration routes;

• Emphasize the importance of comprehensive migration partnerships, address the benefits and take stock of innovative solutions for migration management 

• Call for effective measures to address abuse of asylum procedures, in full respect of international legal obligations;

• Promote measurable progress and relevant analysis mechanisms through data, indicators and peer learning;

• Reflect the non-voluntary return component within the broader framework of safe and dignified return and readmission, as well as sustainable reintegration;

• Encourage national ownership of return and reintegration policies, notably in supporting capacity-building infrastructures in countries of origin transit, such as civil registry and referral systems ;

• Maintain a clear distinction between regular and irregular migratory status; 

• Ensure that the specific challenges faced by vulnerable persons, including women and children, continue to be fully addressed. 

• Finally, the Forum should focus on practical implementation and concrete results.

We will continue to engage constructively and in a spirit of partnership and good cooperation.

Thank you.