Prime Minister Janez Janša |Author KPV

The signatories express their serious concern over the large-scale illegal crossings of the European Union's external border, warning that the current situation undermines confidence in the EU's common migration policy. They also stress that recent decisions making the swift return of irregular migrants more difficult, as well as the regularisation of a large number of persons without legal status, create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union may ultimately lead to lawful residence.The letter, initiated by Denmark, calls for an extraordinary videoconference of the EU Ministers of the Interior to coordinate a common response aimed at protecting the Union's external borders and supporting Spain in addressing the situation. Proposed measures include enhanced support from Frontex, a review of EU cooperation with Morocco, and additional measures to prevent further uncontrolled border crossings.The signatories further emphasise that protecting the Union's external borders, preventing illegal migration, and demonstrating solidarity with Member States facing the greatest migration pressures are shared responsibilities of the European Union. In their view, the current situation requires unity, determination and swift action by the European institutions.The letter was signed by the leaders of Italy, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Austria.

The full letter is published below.

Dear President Costa,Dear President von der Leyen,Dear Taoiseach,

We are writing to express our serious concern regarding the recent developments atthe external border of the European Union in Ceuta. We are determined to preventsmugglers from challenging the integrity of the Union ’s external borders.

We recognise that the recent ruling of the Spanish Supreme Court has been used totrigger this attack and abuse our migration and asylum system. At the same time, wehave a duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration, bycoordinating our action, strengthening our external borders and addressing all policies that can serve as pull factors, such as the regularization of very large number of irregular migrants.

We cannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalisation of migration orother hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible. That a migrant ’s illegal entry can turn into legal stay.

Such a perception would encourage further attempts, undermine confidence in ourcommon migration policy and have repercussions for all Member States. The currentsituation also underlines the importance of the Chisinau Declaration on migration andthe need for its swift and effective implementation.

The events of the last days require an immediate and coordinated European response.We welcome that Spain and Morocco are cooperating closely to ensure the swift returnof migrants that entered illegally and that a large number of them have already beenreturned. We expect that, with the support of the European Union, the current situationwill come under full control.

In light of the seriousness of the situation, we would ask the Irish Presidency of theCouncil of the European Union to convene, as a matter of urgency, an extraordinaryvideoconference of the Ministers of the Interior. This meeting should allow for acommon assessment of the situation and agreement on a coordinated Europeanresponse, including the rapid mobilisation of available EU instruments and thenecessary support to Spain to restore effective control of the Union ’s external borderand prevent further uncontrolled crossings. Ministers should in particular considerenhanced Frontex support and the effectiveness of EU cooperation with Morocco.

We take note that no unauthorized onward movements have been recorded towardsEurope. We reiterate our readiness to take any necessary measures, in accordance withUnion law and the Schengen Borders Code, to safeguard public order and address risksarising from secondary movements, including through reinforcing or reintroducingtemporary internal border controls.

The European Council has consistently stressed that protecting the Union ’s externalborders, preventing illegal migration and secondary movements, and ensuringsolidarity with Member States at the frontline or under particular pressure are sharedEuropean responsibilities. The current situation calls for unity, determination an durgency.

We count on your leadership to ensure that the European Union responds swiftly,effectively and in a coordinated manner.

Giorgia MeloniPrime Minister of Italy

Christian StockerFederal Chancellor of Austria

Rumen RadevPrime Minister of Bulgaria

Andrej PlenkovićPrime Minister of Croatia

Kristen MichalPrime Minister of Estonia

Friedrich MerzFederal Chancellor of Germany

Péter MagyarPrime Minister of Hungary

Gitanas NausėdaPresident of the Republic of Lithuania

Rob JettenPrime Minister of the Netherlands

Mette FrederiksenPrime Minister of Denmark

Bart De WeverPrime Minister of Belgium

Nikos ChristodoulidesPresident of Cyprus

Andrej BabišPrime Minister of the Czech Republic

Petteri OrpoPrime Minister of Finland

Kyriakos MitsotakisPrime Minister of Greece

Andris KulbergsPrime Minister of Latvia

Robert AbelaPrime Minister of Malta

Donald TuskPrime Minister of Poland

Nicușor DanPresident of Romania

Robert FicoPrime Minister of Slovakia

Janez JanšaPrime Minister of Slovenia

Ulf KristerssonPrime Minister of Sweden