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Interview: Latvian FM calls for more EU efforts to send back illegal economic migrants

Xinhua, March 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told Xinhua in a recent interview that Europe can not welcome everyone, as it must fulfill its moral and legal obligations within the international law and admit people in real need who are escaping from war zones.

"We failed in the process of making a distinction and send back the (illegal) economic migrants," said the minister in a recent exclusive interview in Brussels after a meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers.

He added that closing the borders is not right, but to pass the message that everyone is welcome is also not the right message as well.

According to the minister, the EU needs to strengthen its external borders. The creation of EU external border and coast guard service is a must.

"We need to have a common standard of considering asylum applications, of guarding external borders and a return policy," the official said.

About EU's latest deal with Turkey itself, Rinkevics welcomed it but pushed for an effective implementation while not forgetting the North Africa and other route.

Rinkevics thought that Schengen treaty is in danger.

"Without a common migration and border control policy, we will not be able to enjoy Schengen as we know it. I'm happy that the EU council stated clearly that they want to restore the normal functioning of it by the end of 2016," he ended.

The EU and Turkey managed to finalize their migration deal last Friday by the end of the two-day EU summit, with an aim to jointly tackle the migration crisis.

Under the deal, all new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into the Greek islands since March 20 would be returned to Turkey, and this would take place in full accordance with EU and international law.

Moreover, the two parties agreed that for every Syrian being returned to Turkey from the Greek islands, another Syrian would be resettled from Turkey to the EU. Endit