Bucharest, Romania 7 February 2019
Video: https://youtu.be/U8AQm5EdF9U
As you all know we are all here in Bucharest for a very important Justice and Home Affairs council. The three issues today. First has to do with Schengen. We have to strengthen Schengen. Schengen is the greatest achievement of all times, so it is our duty to preserve, enhance and uphold it.
Second has to do with security. We have to work together in order to tackle security issues and mostly terrorist material online and offline. We have to do more on that. It is exactly what our citizens demand from us.
The third has to do with one more attempt to find temporary solutions on disembarkation. And at the same time work more in order to reach a comprehensive and structural agreement on our common asylum system.
Have done a lot on migration. We are not where we are three years ago. But we have to do more in the future because we don't know what the future is holding for us. Migration is a phenomenon that came to stay. And Europe has to be more prepared in order to address future challenges. As I said, we have done a lot, but we still have to do more for the future. To do that, we need strong political will of all Member States.
Believe me, I wonder why some governments do not agree on our proposals because all elements are on the table. And as I said before, we have to leave behind a legacy for the future. We are running out of time. The clock is ticking.
We are in view of the European elections. Let me tell you something that for me is very important. The upcoming elections should not paralyze us, on the contrary, and this has to do with today's council here in Bucharest, we have to join our forces to show strong political will and move forward. As I said, everything's on the table. It depends on whether all governments are inspired by the same the spirit of duty towards our Union. The Commission has done its part and the Commission is here to support Member States. I count a lot in order to find and reach agreements on the Romanian PSY.
Q. What do you think of the Austrian initiative about making it easier to return criminal asylum seekers?
I don't have any comment because it has to do with what the Austrian government has said. But the Commission has taken so many initiatives during the last few years that all proposals are on the table. What is the difference? We opt for European solutions. This is what the European citizens are asking from us. Every Member State has its own political position, but it is our duty to lead a discussion to a convergence of our policies, and this is the role of the Commission in front of this issue.
Q. Temporary arrangements
This disembarkation problems that occurred recently: yes, we found a solution and the European Commission was behind that, but we cannot stay only on ad-hoc solutions. We need something temporary until we reach the final agreement on our proposal on the common asylum system. Let's hope that it will work. If I was not optimistic, I would not be here.