16 Feb 2016 – The Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) participated for the first time in the annual EU-IOM Senior Officials Meeting today, and on this occasion formally joined the EU-IOM Strategic Cooperation Framework through an exchange of letters in a further sign of the critical importance migration issues hold in Europe and neighbouring regions. 

DG NEAR stated that it is largely concerned by migration flows which have impacted most of the countries neighbouring the EU, and is focusing its response to the challenges arising from the need to better manage migration. Operational cooperation between DG NEAR and IOM has already been ongoing in the Neighbourhood South and East as well as enlargement countries. In the context of the current migrant and refugee inflows to Europe, this cooperation has recently been stepped up along the Eastern Mediterranean route.

Click on the link for more information about today's meeting and the EU-IOM Strategic Cooperation Framework