Opening remarks by Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Johansson - Press Conference, Strasbourg, 12 March 2024

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Opening remarks by Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Johansson on migration - Press Conference, Strasbourg, 12 March 2024 Brussels, 13 March 2024 Leaders meeting next week at the European Council will once again have migration on the agenda. This has been a recurrent theme over the last years and for a reason: migration remains one the most challenging issues and continues to dominate our political agendas and your newspaper headlines. I also don't see that changing any time soon. It was the same case when Ylva and I took office four years ago. But there is one crucial difference now: we have crossed the Rubicon and solidified a dynamic and common EU approach to migration that many prophesised as impossible. The political agreement reached on the new EU Pact on migration and asylum is a gamechanger. The eleven interlocking laws will ensure a collective approach to better secure our external borders, a fair and more effective system of solidarity and responsibility as well as efficient asylum procedures. And as Ylva will outline, we will leave no stone unturned in making sure they are effectively and quickly implemented. Before the summer, we will produce a full, step-by-step implementation plan and support Member States every step of the way – with technical and operational assistance and significant EU funding, including EUR 2 billion earmarked from the MFF review. But...