Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European-American ministerial meeting on the interior and justice issues begins today, Monday. According to the European Union institutions in Brussels, the meetings begin today in Warsaw, the capital of the Polish rotating EU presidency, and will last two days.
The joint ministerial meetings are held to assess what was agreed upon in previous meetings on justice and interior issues. The last joint meeting between the two sides was held on June 20 and 21, 2024, and was hosted by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the time in Brussels. At the end of the meeting, the strong transatlantic ties were affirmed and the shared commitment to regular dialogue and close cooperation in the areas of justice and interior, including transnational organized crime, terrorism, irregular migration, and support for Ukraine.
The meeting also highlighted the commitment of both parties to transatlantic cooperation in confronting the global threat posed by drug trafficking. Discussions highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the resilience of logistics centers and deepen international cooperation in law enforcement and judicial matters at the regional and international levels, including in the field of cocaine and synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl. The EU and the US reaffirmed their long-standing and unwavering support for Ukraine in its courageous defense against Russia's unlawful and unjustified war of aggression, including through enhanced cooperation on justice, as well as the enforcement of sanctions and export controls. In light of the G7 Justice Ministers' pledge to support anti-corruption efforts to rebuild Ukraine, they reiterated their determination to continue joint efforts to support Ukraine in strengthening the rule of law, justice reforms, and anti-corruption efforts as it advances on its European path.
The two sides also focused on addressing irregular migration, with the aim of combating migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, building on the call of the Global Coalition Against Migrant Smuggling (GCAM) launched in November 2023.
The two sides welcomed further progress in negotiations on an EU-US agreement facilitating access to electronic evidence in criminal proceedings and look forward to advancing and concluding these negotiations. They also reaffirmed their commitment to combating child sexual abuse.
The EU and the US discussed their joint counterterrorism efforts, including the importance of information sharing, and addressed the issue of radicalization and its relationship to disinformation. The participants also exchanged views on supporting inclusive and resilient democracies and countering malign foreign influence, which requires concerted efforts and appropriate tools.
Finally, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to visa-free travel for all EU and US citizens.
Recalling the progress made and the need to address global challenges together, the EU and the US committed to continuing their constructive dialogue and meeting again in Poland in the first half of 2025.