May 24, 2016 - 5:00 AM
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - Slovakia's foreign minister says his country wants to focus on sustainable migrant and asylum policies during its forthcoming presidency of the European Union.
Addressing Parliament, Miroslav Lajcak says such policies should be based on the protection of the external borders of the EU's visa-free Schengen zone and re-establishment of the zone's full functioning after several member states reintroduced border checks to stem the flow of migrants.
Slovakia takes over the rotating presidency July 1.
The country is a vocal opponent of a compulsory EU plan to redistribute refugees in member states and is suing the EU over it.
But Lajcak said Tuesday it is desirable to make the EU more attractive for highly qualified migrants. He said the presidency's other priorities will include the EU's deeper economic and fiscal integration.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016