MEETING BETWEEN THE CHAIR OF THE LIBE COMMITTEE AND THE FRENCH MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR

On February 10, in Strasbourg, the Chair of the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament, Javier Zarzalejos, held a meeting with the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, accompanied by MEP François-Xavier Bellamy.

During the meeting, key topics on the European Union’s security and migration agenda were discussed, as well as institutional cooperation to address common challenges in justice and home affairs.

The discussion focused on the reform of the Return Directive, where France has expressed its interest in promoting a regulation that ensures greater efficiency in return procedures and migration control. The necessary conditions for its implementation and the possibility of adjustments to the current regulations to reach agreements in the European Parliament and the Council were debated. Additionally, the definition of a “safe third country” and possible alternatives to strengthen migration management mechanisms in cooperation with origin and transit countries were analyzed.

Regarding security, the role of Europol in European police cooperation was addressed, emphasizing the need to strengthen its capabilities without altering its operational nature. The impact of the Entry/Exit System (EES) was also discussed, as its implementation has sparked debate due to technical and security challenges. Concerning data access by authorities, the importance of striking a balance between security and the protection of fundamental rights was highlighted, in line with the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU.

The discussion also included the fight against migrant smuggling and the reinforcement of measures to prosecute such activities. The need to establish effective tools to sanction those responsible was emphasized, with an approach that allows Member States to adapt measures to their national legislations. Finally, initiatives on legal migration were reviewed, including the debate on the Long-Term Residence Directive and France’s position on the EU Talent Pool. The meeting demonstrated the commitment of both parties to finding common solutions in these key areas for the EU.