Honourable Members,
I don't hide from you that I consider the European Border and Coast Guard one of my key proposals and essential element of a comprehensive migration policy.
We have not only created, installed but not also strengthened the European Border and Coast Guard in in record time with our joint work and efforts.
Let's be honest: this is unseen in the history of European decision making.
I would like to thank the Rapporteur, Ms Metsola, and all the Shadows and the Romanian Presidency as well, for having found a well balanced compromise on this proposal.
This agreement highlights once again that when working together we can bring real results and show to our citizens that the Union is willing and able to act.
When the crisis peaked in Europe in the summer of 2015, Europe was taken by surprise and was not prepared. Confronted with an inflow of irregular arrivals through our “Eastern and Southern border” - the Mediterranean Sea, we knew that we had to take resolute action.
There was no consolidated European border agency, no hotspots or an operational presence on the ground at the EU level. The European asylum system showed not to be fit for purpose. Our Information systems didn’t talk to each other and our approach in engaging with thrird countries was fragmented.
We were forced to take both, immediate as well as long-term measures, and to work on all these fronts in parallel. Now, four years later, anyone trying to cross our external borders irregularly is identified, fingerprinted and thoroughly screened.
Today, we have an up-and-running European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and reinforced migration, border and security information systems, which are progressively becoming interoperable.
With the new Regulation, that we are debating now, we will be able to achieve more. One of its key elements is a European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps which will be gradually and swiftly established in its full capacity of 10 000 by 2027. However, we will be able to observe the first deployments already on 1 January 2021.
The other key element of this proposal and an important gamechanger, is that the Agency’s own statutory staff will also be team members with executive powers to carry out border management and return tasks in their own right.
Of course, the competent authorities of the host Member State will remain responsible for and have command & control of all the European Border Coast Guard activities taking place on its territory.
While remaining under the authority of the host Member State, some of the tasks will include:
The possibility to check identity documents, To authorise or refuse entry at border crossing points, To stamp travel documents, To patrol borders and stop persons who have crossed the border irregularly, To assist in the implementation of return procedures, notably by preparing return decisions or escorting non-EU nationals which are subject to a forced return.
Operational staff of the Standing Corps will also receive common training to ensure that highest professional standards are applied and respected and a common operational culture is installed in the staff.
The compromise will ensure that the Agency can better and more actively support the Member States in the area of return in order to improve the EU’s response to persisting migratory challenges.
I welcome also many other developments agreed by the co-legislators as part of this Regulation, such as streamlining of the monitoring of the fundamental rights within the Agency’s operational activities. The respect of fundamental rights is at the heart of all Commission initiatives, including this one. All of the activities of the European Border and Coast Guard, the Agency and the Member States' competent authorities will respect the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter.
The Agency will work closely with the future EU Asylum Agency to ensure effective access to asylum procedures. The Agency will also help to ensure that those that are not in need of international protection are returned, in full respect of fundamental rights – I hope that once the next parliament will be in place, the proposal to set up the EU Asylum Agency will be quickly adopted.
Finally, I want to add that I regret that the possibility of a monthly differential payment to the statutory staff members was not retained in the final agreement.
This aimed to improve the attractiveness of the Agency as employer, to ensure timely recruitment of statutory staff. We will forward a Declaration in this regard to this Parliament.
Last, but not least, a new political steering for the implementation of the European Integrated Border Management, including planning of capabilities for the European Border and Coast Guard as well as ensuring coherence and consistency with the EU’s overall external policy will be put in place as well.
Indeed with this new Regulation both the Agency and the Member States will have the tools to anticipate and respond to future crisis at the EU external borders.
Ultimately, this will also help preserving the long-term viability of the Schengen area of free movement.
Thank you for your attention and I am looking forward to your views.
Concluding remarks
Thank you for this very important debate and your support. The new European Board Coast Guard Regulation is a game changer in terms of effectiveness on how the EU collectively protects its common external borders and manages the migratory flows in the next decades. This is a major step forward and we can be proud of what we have achieved.
Both the Agency and the Member States will have the tools to anticipate and respond to future crisis at EU external borders.
I strongly hope that you will support the final outcome of the negotiations during the votes later on.
We need to show to our citizens that Europe cares and works for their interest and that they can trust Europe.
