Thank you Mr Chair,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union on behalf of its Member States. I would also like to add some comments in the national capacity.
First, allow me to extend our appreciation for the comprehensive report Director General presented to the Council. I would also like to congratulate and welcome Lebanon as a new member and International Commission on Missing Persons as a new observer to the Council.
Mr Chair,
Estonia commends IOM for its tireless efforts to deal with the challenges but also enforce the opportunities that migration and human mobility bring about on global as well as regional scale. We therefore reassure our support to IOM in its endeavour to ensure humane and orderly management of migration.
Since migration continues to be a global and common challenge, we see the necessity to continue with and strengthen the cooperation and partnerships between Member States as well as with the UN organisations and other stakeholders. However, we strongly support the right of states to implement their own sovereign migration policy.
In today’s world, it is important to find innovative solutions that would enhance comprehensive approach to migration and support our common pledge to leave no one behind. New technologies can contribute to developing more efficient migration and border management. Efficient border control solutions, innovative identification and registration tools with reliable data protection solutions could help tackling irregular migration and human trafficking. Glad that many countries have already decided to use these opportunities.
Furthermore, digital tools might also have an indirect but valuable impact on creating favourable conditions for addressing root causes for migration, for example generating jobs and employment opportunities, improving access to micro-finance as well education, enhancing transparency, fighting against corruption. Estonia has had a pleasure to share our best practices and experiences on e-governance with many countries all over the world and we continue to do so. We are ready and willing to share these experiences and practices also with the IOM, in order to contribute to the organization’s transformation and internal reforms.
Lastly, we highly value the good bilateral cooperation with IOM and with its country office in Estonia who has supported us in providing civic orientation courses for beneficiaries of international protection already for past few years. We also value and thank for the expertise and support that IOM has provided in assisting with voluntary returns of third-country nationals.
We sincerely hope for the continuance of our fruitful cooperation with IOM.
Thank you for your attention!