Measures to halt migration flows start to pay off

Measures to halt migration flows approved by the European Union (EU) in mid-March have started to pay off, said Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Sunday.

Lajcak, returning from visits to Greece and Turkey, stated that efforts to resolve the migration crisis are moving to a brand new stage, therefore.

He visited Greece and Turkey along with his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders, who was representing the EU's presiding country there, plus the foreign affairs ministers of France, Italy, Malta and Portugal.

"We had a chance to assess the situation jointly on the spot three weeks after the adoption of key European decisions linked to tackling the migration crisis," stressed Lajcak.

Lajcak said that Greece has managed to build a comprehensive system of migrant registration and reception centres in a short time.

"Our role as European partners is to help them to work fully and in a sustainable manner," he stated.

The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will follow the current Dutch one in the second half of this year, will continue the work that has already been started in this field.

"This is a Europe-wide issue, and it will also be on our presidential desk. It will be one of the main issues and priorities," concluded Lajcak.

Source:Xinhua