​​​​​​​ROME/ISTANBUL

The interior ministers from five EU member countries bordering the Mediterranean called for increased efforts Saturday to combat irregular migration.

The appeal came during the MED5 meeting in Naples, attended by officials from Spain, Malta, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, along with EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens.

The MED5 countries issued a statement after the meeting that welcomed the European Commission’s initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of return procedures and reaffirmed the importance of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

It called for the development of suitable and innovative solutions to address irregular migration and combat human trafficking networks.

The MED5 ministers stressed the importance of adequate EU funding to support voluntary returns and the reintegration of returnees, according to the Italian news agency, ANSA.

They agreed to establish new partnerships with key origin and transit countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which are strategically important in the region and vital to the EU’s interests and stability.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said after the meeting that fighting human traffickers remains a top priority. “We all agreed that Frontex must be strengthened.”