First press conference: Security
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me first start by thanking Etienne for an excellent Presidency.
Etienne, my dear friend, we have started the year intensely together after Charlie Hebdo and we come full circle now. Let me express my warm thanks and respect for your hard work these 6 months. You and your team have delivered exceptional work, at one of the most trying moments of EU history.
We have achieved an enormous amount of progress – starting with the European Agenda on Security, over the last months and especially today. First, today ministers reached a political agreement on the Europol Regulation. Now the only remaining step is the formal approval by the European Parliament. This reform makes Europol more operational, more accountable and more effective. It can be the hub of our intelligence sharing in the context of counter-terrorism. This will exactly be the job of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) at Europol, which will be launched on 1 January.
In addition, the EU Internet Referral Unit at Europol, which was launched on 1 July, is working hard to help to reduce the volume of terrorist material online, and counter radicalisation narratives. Also, just yesterday, we launched the EU Internet Forum, with the participation of Ministers and high-level representatives of internet companies. I am pleased that we see eye to eye with Internet companies and Member States on the way forward.
Secondly, today, Ministers agreed on PNR. I think everyone understand that there is no time to lose. The agreement is balanced, proportionate and will help to improve the security of citizens while respecting their rights. We have also taken several actions before today. In the space of two weeks, the Commission put forward susbstantial measures to step up the fight against terrorism. Three days ago, the Commission presented a proposal for a Directive on Terrorism, to criminalise not only the act of terrorism, but also all preparations involved such as travelling, training, and financing. This means that foreign terrorist fighters will be criminally prosecuted in the same way all across the EU.
Thirdly, we delivered an operational Action Plan on illicit possession and trafficking of weapons and explosives both within and outside the EU. Both initiatives were positively received by the Ministers and I hope that we will be able to move forward as soon as possible. Taking further measures to improve the fight against terrorist financing is key. We have to strip terrorists and terrorist organisations of the financial means to plan and implement their inhuman goals. For example, the 4th Anti-Money Laundering package gives us the tools to detect and trace the huge sums of money from criminal proceeds and the money flows that support terrorist groups. On top of this, the Union's action against terrorist financing needs to be accelerated. The Commission is assessing which measures should be proposed and in what form.
Today I urged once again the Ministers to intensify their efforts and to implement the necessary actions in order to make fully use of Schengen Information System, in particularly on foreign terrorist fighters.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I've said this morning that today is time to deliver, and that we have no time to lose. Everyone agrees on this: we in the Commission, here in the Council and in the European Parliament. But it's not just about today. These are testing times for the unity and cooperation of the European Union, for the safety of our citizens. We need to work together and united continuously. The security and freedoms of our citizens are our top priorities and we are determined to do everything to ensure that these are never compromised.
Second Press Conference: Migration
Dear friends,
Let me first of all thank the Luxembourgish Presidency for the excellent cooperation in the last five months to deal together with an enormous European challenge: migration. Jean, my dear friend, we have worked and travelled very frequently these last few months. We owe the implementation and roll-out of the European Agenda on Migration to the leadership, dedication and reactivity of the Luxembourgish Presidency. The last six months have not only been a strong collaboration, but a true partnership. Jean, je te remercie et félicite profondément.
We have made enormous progress since we adopted the European Agenda on Migration. But Member States haven't delivered yet on all the commitments and agreements made. We can only respond effectively if everyone fulfils their commitments and responsibilities. That's why I urged all Ministers to speed up the relocation process from Greece and Italy and to offer the necessary resources that will help make all the hotspots fully operational. It is only by fully implementing all elements of the relocation mechanism, and I emphasise the word ALL, that the system will work – for everyone.
Yesterday important developments have taken place in Greece, which triggered the Civil Protection Mechanism, requested a RABIT deployment from Frontex, and reached an agreement with Frontex on its land border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Cyprus has been the first to respond to Greece's call for civil protection – I call on all other Member States to quickly follow suit. And not just on this, but also in sending their staff and border guards to Frontex for deployment and support in Greece. But this is not just about Italy and Greece – more and more countries in Europe are affecting by this crisis, in the South, East and North.
I was in Sweden earlier this week. Sweden is under pressure and the Commission stands by Sweden and is ready to help. I am going to Sarajevo next week for the EU-Western Balkan Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Forum to follow-up with our partners in the region on all the common actions and commitments taken since the October Western Balkans' Summit. Member States also need to intensify their efforts in implementing return decisions and - as always - the Commission is ready to help. While we deal with the immediate situation now, we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture and start thinking comprehensively also about legal migration. That is why I am particularly pleased that the Ministers agreed today on new common immigration rules for students, researchers, trainees and volunteers from third-countries.
Finally, about Schengen. Despite the difficulties that we've experienced with the refugee crisis, Schengen is not the problem. On the contrary, we should use its tools and make it part of the solution. This can only happen through the proper implementation of the rules, but also through the reinforcement our border controls, mutual trust and information exchange.I have said it before, and I repeat it again: it is precisely by applying the rules, by using the system, that we ensure the safety of our citizens. We should focus on strengthening and improving Schengen, not breaking it down. In parallel to our upcoming proposal for a European Border Guard, we are also exploring the possibility of a proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code to allow for systematic checks of EU citizens at the external borders – as requested by the Council last time round.
Dear friends,
We really have no time to lose. The refugee crisis is affecting an increasing number of Member States, and not only at the frontline. But let's please not fool ourselves or anyone: no Member State and no EU institution can address the migratory challenge alone. The only way forward, on all of these things, is more Europe, not less. The only way forward is in a united way. Let us prove, not for European leaders in two weeks, but most importantly to European citizens, that Europe can truly deliver.
