Grande-Marlaska hopes for the imminent approval of an "effective, fair and balanced" European migration pact

The minister made this point during his speech at the LXX Conference of European Affairs Committees (COSAC), held in Madrid. Grande-Marlaska, who took part in the meeting in his capacity as rotating president of the Council of Foreign Ministers, urged the member states and the European Parliament to speed up negotiations to reach an agreement before the end of the European legislature.

According to the minister, the Migration and Asylum Pact will provide a new, improved and updated legal framework that will respond to the current reality and will send out a message of unity in migration policy, "an area that has divided us for too many years now".

During his speech, Grande-Marlaska expressed his conviction that "now, and only now, is the time" to reach an agreement. "There will not be another opportunity in the short or medium term", stressed the minister, who noted the commitment of the Parliament and the Council to reach a common position.

The minister praised the efforts of the technical teams negotiating the final adjustments to the text. "It is demanding work, but it is worth it. A major effort is being made to identify the most politically sensitive issues to facilitate a rapprochement of positions during trilogues and technical meetings," he added.

The meeting of the LXX Conference of European Affairs Committees (COSAC), organised by the General Courts, brings together representatives of the committees of the national parliaments of the member states of the EU that deal with European affairs, as well as representatives of the European Parliament, to discuss Community issues such as the energy situation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the EU's relations with Latin America, among other matters.

The conference was inaugurated this Monday by the President of Congress, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Upper House of Parliament, Pedro Rollán, and in addition to the Minister for Home Affairs, the speakers will be the Third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares.

Non official translation