Mediterranean Ministers Call for Deeper EU Cooperation to Address Migration Root Causes

Five Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Spain) called on the EU to strengthen bilateral agreements and increase funding to address the root causes of migration during a recent ministers' meeting on Gran Canaria Island.

The ministers discussed the newly adopted EU migration and asylum pact, which includes border reforms and a sharing of responsibility among all EU members for migrant arrivals.

In 2015, a large number of migrants entered Spain, leading to the need for reform.

The reform, which takes effect in 2026, was described as historic by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

He emphasized the importance of prevention and addressing the root causes of migration, and stressed the need for bilateral cooperation with third countries to reduce irregular migration.

The minister urged the European Commission to strengthen partnerships and agreements with these countries, and also suggested increasing European funds for such cooperation.

The EU's current asylum rules require arrival countries to host and vet asylum-seekers, leading to pressure on frontline states and fueling far-right opposition.

A new EU pact aims to build border centers and send some asylum-seekers to outside "safe" countries, but migrant charities and NGOs, including Amnesty International, criticize it as causing more human suffering.