To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her position is on the announcement by the European Commission for Justice at the EU-Africa summit that national migration quotes should be managed by the European Union; and if she will make a statement. (106875)

Vice-President Frattini clarified his comments at a press conference on 22 November explaining that the collection of statistics on legal migration opportunities in the EU would strengthen the Commission’s hand in negotiations with third countries. In doing so he underlined that member states would continue to set national quotas where applicable.

If such a proposal were made the UK would carefully consider its compatibility with our domestic managed migration strategy. The UK retains the right to opt in to immigration measures and we will not opt in to anything which harms our ability to control our own borders or which is against our national interest.