Spanish and Italian Home Affairs Ministers agree on importance of increased collaboration at EU level to prevent Jihadi terrorism

Within the scope of the European Union, both Home Affairs Ministers highlighted the positive consequences for security deriving from the implementation of the Passenger Name Register (PNR) Directive and expressed their confidence in the ability of the European Parliament to unblock its passage through parliament as soon as possible. For both Jorge Fernández Díaz and Angelino Alfano, this register is a crucial tool in the fight against Jihadi terrorism and organised crime.

The two ministers also reviewed the migratory pressure on southern European countries and their views also coincided on the analysis of this issue. The two ministers see it as essential that the European Union should not only consolidate its migratory policy, but that it should also include it on its upcoming agenda as one of the main priorities under the principle of shared responsibility. Jorge Fernández Díaz informed Angelino Alfano of the upcoming opening of specific offices to attend to applicants seeking international protection, at the Ceuta and Melilla border crossing points.

At this meeting, similarly to the one in November last year, the two Home Affairs Ministers verified the extent to which their two departments undertake similar counter-terrorism and illegal immigration measures, and ratified the excellent climate of collaboration between them in tackling the various threats.