Dimitris Avramopoulos first asserted the EU need for an integrated and coherent approach covering all areas including foreign and security policy. This approach should be based on two fundamental common grounds for the EU and its member states:

• Solidarity (financial solidarity, support to EASO and Frontex, relocation, etc.)
• Responsibility sharing (full and effective implementation of the Common European Asylum System)

Other major elements were highlighted by the Commissioner:

• Activities of prevention and protection against human trafficking as well as investigation and prosecution to fight smuggling will continue to be of prior concern to the Commission.
• Frontex activities shall be broaden
• Resettlement is and will remain the only route of legal entry for a person in need of protection. However, quotas might be increased and the possibility to issue humanitarian visas is being discussed
• For obvious demographic and economic reasons, legal migration shall be strengthened in particular increasing the EU Blue Card attractiveness and effectiveness

To answer migration and asylum challenges, the EU should:

• Strengthen supportive and credible relations with third countries
• Adopt a long-term approach that addresses the root causes of migration
• Embed migration in all fields of EU external relations.

A large number of figures and funding information have also been provided by the Commissioner.

Read the full speech of Dimitris Avramopoulos on Europa.eu website