EU Home chiefs discuss migration, Union's security

European Union home affairs ministers are meeting at an informal video conference to discuss migration, in an effort led by Portugal which holds the EU's rotating presidency for the first half of this year.The meeting agenda also includes discussing guarantees of the operation of the Schengen area in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and Europol's new mandate.

Portuguese home affairs minister Eduardo Cabrita said on Thursday that the ministers will try to work together to achieve solidarity on a "common responsibility" on migratory flows.The ministers are meeting to discuss the the European Commission's proposal for the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Finding consensus for a common EU policy on migration has eluded the bloc for years.Earlier this month, Portugal started consultations with other European Union countries to find common ground for a new policy on migration.

The talks come after years of chaos and dispute among the bloc's 27 nations over the handling of migrants and refugees amid a recognition that the current EU system for deciding whether they should receive protection or be sent home has failed.The arrival in 2015 of well over one million migrants, mostly refugees fleeing war in Syria, sparked one of the EU's biggest political crises.

EU nations have fought since over who should take responsibility for the migrants, with front-line Mediterranean nations like Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain demanding more help from their EU neighbours.

The arguments rage on even though the number of unauthorized migrants has dwindled sharply in recent years

Portugal wants to reach a comprehensive migration agreement with countries along the Mediterranean Sea's southern rim, from where many migrants cross to the EU.