ICMPD’s Director General Michael Spindelegger went on two missions in the previous week, meeting with the Federal Councillor of Switzerland as well as the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Switzerland affirms the importance of ICMPD
In Switzerland, Director General Spindelegger met with Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and State Secretary for Migration Mario Gattiker where they discussed the important link which ICMPD provides to the member states that are non-EU member. Sommaruga emphasised the importance of an European solution for the migration crisis and welcomed the proposal for ICMPD as a political platform to share practical experience on the development of new migration concepts. The follow up actions for the Valletta Summit led by two ICMPD managed dialogues, the Khartoum and Rabat processes, were highlighted as particularly important for the continued cooperation on migration between Europe and African States.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reiterates the priority of cooperation
During his mission to Skopje, Mr. Spindelegger met with Macedonia’s Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Poposki and Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski. Macedonian counterparts emphasised the importance of joint cooperation between the region and the EU. The current migration crisis was discussed in depth, with the Macedonian government discussing the difficulties which it faces due to its geographic location as an outside border of the EU’s Schengen zone. The government representatives do not see closing its borders as a reasonable option. Both Ministers welcomed the proposal of working together with ICMPD as well as the EU to support its limited capacities and to deal with the large influx of migrants. Mr Spindelegger related his understanding of the country’s geographic location putting the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in a situation that has provided many challenges.