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To stress the need for a definition and active application of the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility in the European migration and asylum policy;
To stress that the strengthening of border controls cannot take precedence over the obligation to save lives and respect human rights;
To stress the role local and regional authorities can play in the creation of safe and legal migration ways into Europe and in the integration of migrants;
To present the potential benefits of a cooperation between local authorities in the EU and in countries of origin and transit of the migrants.

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS



- stresses the need for an active application of the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility in the European migration and asylum policy;

- suggests that solidarity should be the cardinal principle in shaping the future EU migration policy, considering the approach towards migrants and between all the levels of government;

- stresses that the strengthening of border controls cannot take precedence over the obligation to save lives and respect human rights or over the right to seek asylum in the EU;

- suggests paying attention to increasing the synergies between the various bodies and systems set up to date for example Frontex, SIS II and EUROSUR, operating within the framework of migration and the movement of persons and, in terms of security, EUROPOL and EUROJUST, working to prevent and eradicate the criminal offences associated with illegal transits;

- encourages the further development of dialogue and cooperation with third countries of origin and transit of migratory flows;

- points out that all levels of government through the Union should share responsibility for the reception and integration of refugees and migrants, and for improving inter-regional cooperation, coordination and solidarity through the introduction of a responsibility-sharing mechanism between the European Union, Member States, regions and local authorities;

- stresses the role local and regional authorities can play in the creation of safe and legal migration ways into Europe and in the integration of migrants in setting-up concrete measures of exchange of good practice as well as information on migration flows between local and regional authorities;

- encourages the cooperation between EU institutions and organisations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and assemblies such as the CoR's Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) in order to identify solutions to the management of migration flows.