Statement on behalf of 25 EU Member States – UN General Assembly: Informal meeting on the IMRF Progress Declaration

Statement on behalf of 25 EU Member States - UN General Assembly: Informal meeting on the IMRF Progress Declaration

6 March 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of 25 European Union Member States delivered by Ireland at the Informal meeting with Member States on the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) Progress Declaration roadmap and priorities

Excellencies,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden which are Member States of the European Union, bearing in mind that not all of them are participating in the GCM.

Let me start by congratulating the co-facilitators on their appointment as well as expressing appreciation for convening this meeting.

We are fully committed to protecting human rights of migrants.

As we move towards negotiations on the Progress Declaration, we would like to underline several recommendations.

It is our position that the Progress Declaration should:

• Reaffirm the non-legally binding nature of the Global Compact and respect for national sovereignty

• Call for an increasingly joint One UN approach to create synergies and amplify impacts, grounded in the UN80 initiative and the humanitarian reset;

• Preserve the balanced 360-degree vision of the Compact, ensuring equal attention to prevention of irregular migration, including through tackling root causes, countering migrant smuggling and combating trafficking in human beings, saving lives, effective return and reintegration and optimising regular pathways in line with national competences. Recall support for comprehensive and whole-of-route approach to migration management;

• Support the whole-of-government approach to migration management;

• Support responsibility of all actors of migration governance, including countries of destination, transit, origin and safe third countries, based on comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation;

• Strengthen operational cooperation along migration routes;

• Emphasize the importance of comprehensive migration partnerships, address the benefits and take stock of new ways and innovative solutions for migration management;

• Call for effective measures to address abuse of asylum procedures, in full respect of international legal obligations;

• Promote measurable progress and relevant analysis mechanisms through data, indicators and peer learning;

• Reflect the non-voluntary return component within the broader framework of safe and dignified return and readmission, as well as sustainable reintegration;

• Encourage national ownership of return and reintegration policies, notably in supporting capacity-building infrastructures in countries of origin transit, such as civil registry and referral systems, and where appropriate support to returnees and their communities, including through international cooperation;

• Maintain a clear distinction between regular and irregular migratory status;

• Ensure that the specific challenges faced by vulnerable persons, including women and children, continue to be fully addressed;

• Finally, the Forum should focus on practical implementation and concrete results.

We will continue to engage constructively and in a spirit of partnership and good cooperation throughout the negotiations.

Thank you.