The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 October, in speeches at the College of Europe and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, that migration had been one of the most difficult subjects to address during her mandate, but that the development of its external aspects was one of the positive results she had achieved.
"We have built the external dimension of the EU's first ever migration policy", said Mrs Mogherini. "When I started, I discovered with great surprise that (migration was) simply not a European issue and certainly not a foreign policy issue", she recalled, adding that during her mandate, the EU had developed an "effective" foreign policy on migration.
Yet Mrs Mogherini recalled that one of the most difficult moments for her was in 2015, when all her conversations with her counterparts focused on the migration crisis. "At that moment, my work started to become almost impossible", she explained. "For a few months, it was almost impossible to have a civilized conversation with any partner, because the starting point was 'aren't you ashamed to panic in this way over a few hundred thousand people arriving in Europe?'", she explained.
In particular, the EU set up Operation EUNAVFOR Med Sophia, "one of the things I am most proud of", admitted the High Representative, while acknowledging that the Member States' decision to withdraw naval assets from the maritime operation was "a big mistake".
Mrs Mogherini added that, to address the deaths in Libyan territorial waters, the EU had decided to train the Libyan coastguard, while acknowledging that they were "far from perfect".
In addition, the High Representative mentioned two other areas of success: a Europe of defence and protection and sometimes even the strengthening of multilateralism. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)