Video conference of home affairs ministers, 13 November 2020

Main results

Fight against terrorism

When Europe works together to fight terrorism and extremism, then Europe is a superpower. All member states have adopted the declaration on the latest terrorist attacks. This sends a strong signal of solidarity. When it comes to the long-term and uncompromising fight against terrorism and extremism, Europe stands shoulder to shoulder. Horst Seehofer, German Federal Minister of the Interior, Building and Community

Following the recent terrorist attacks, ministers looked at how to further strengthen the EU's joint efforts to fight terrorism and issued a joint statement.

• Joint statement by the EU home affairs ministers on the recent terrorist attacks in Europe (press release, 13 November 2020)

In this statement ministers reaffirm their determination to uphold the EU's common values and counter this barbaric terror holistically. They recall the measures taken over the last two decades and highlight a number of actions where work should be brought forward, including in the areas of religious freedom, social cohesion, reinforcing the security of a well-functioning Schengen area, ensuring security, preventing radicalisation online and offline, exchanging information on persons posing a terrorist or violent extremist threat, foreign terrorist fighters, the renewed EU information architecture and protecting public spaces.

• Response to the terrorist threat (background information)

Migration and asylum pact

Minsters discussed the Commission proposals for a pact on migration and asylum. They held an orientation debate on key elements of the pact, including on the external dimension, the proposed pre-entry phase, solidarity mechanism, internal migration and asylum management, various means to improve return, the role of agencies, legal pathways to enter Europe, and integration.

The examination of the pact will continue at technical level, while ministers are expected to come back to these key elements at their meeting in December.

• New pact on migration and asylum (European Commission)
• How the EU manages migration flows (background information)
• Migration flows (infographic)