Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear students,
It is a particular pleasure for me to be at the University of Geneva today.
This institution remains in the post-war period, the nucleus of universal, world-wide thought and European integration.
It retains freedom of action, faithful to the independent and impartial spirit of the Helvetic Confederation.
I would like in particular to thank Professor Sidjanski, a good friend of mine, for his invitation to address you, the students of the centre de competence Dusan Sidjanski en études européennes.
Moreover, there is another reason for me to be pleased to be here today.
I spent part of my life in Geneva when I was in the diplomatic service as general Consul of Greece. I keep very good memories of these years.
The fact that this institute is near the United Nations, another international organisation, reminds us all the more that the challenges of migration and security are global.
Indeed these two issues, migration and security, are at the top of the global political agenda, but they are directly impacting the structure, unity and future of Europe.
Today, the European Union is going through an existential crisis. Some believed that the catalyst for this was the financial crisis. But now it is clear that it is the migration and refugee crisis that is putting into question the very fundaments of the European Union.
Not just migration but equally the security threat today are the two main arguments exploited by nationalist, populist and xenophobic discourse today.
This is because migration and the fight against terrorism are the two top concerns of European citizens today. Our citizens want concrete answers.
However, it is precisely these nationalist and populist voices that are threatening the European project and its unity – instead of giving reassuring answers.
In times like these, we must remember the raison d'être of the European Union – which some seem to have forgotten.
This year we celebrate 60 years of peace, stability and prosperity in Europe – not just as a Union, but as a continent, a region.
This is why we should move forward and continue to further build Europe.
The response to the key challenges that Europe is confronted with today is not more or less Europe, but a BETTER Europe.
Migration and security challenges are already shaping and will continue to shape the future of Europe.
- Will we be able to keep our internal borders open in the Schengen area?
- Can we uphold our moral and legal obligation to offer protection to those in need?
- Can we ensure the safety of our citizens against terrorism?
It is clear that no country could deal with this alone. And while it was a test for Europe, the European Union has demonstrated its capacity to respond.
For example, we have established in record time the European Border and Coast Guard to strengthen our external borders, and better protect internal free movement.
We are also reforming the European common asylum system, to make it more humane, fair and efficient.
In addition to our cooperation with Turkey, we are stepping up our efforts in the Central Mediterranean and especially in Libya.
In addition to the challenges of migration, and the impact they have on the future of the European project, numerous terrorist attacks took place over the past two years – most of them committed by our own citizens.
Hundreds dead, many more injured. Thousands of lives changed forever. These are attacks that target and affect all of us – in all Member States of the Union.
Every aspect of these attacks – their preparation, logistics, means and execution – they were all trans-national. Terrorists don't target a given State.
They target our values and our way of life. Terrorism threatens our openness and our future. These events are also affecting the future of Europe.
They make us understand that the internal security of one Member State is the security of all.
Security will always remain the primary responsibility of our Member States. But the only way to deal with these threats is Trust.
Trust, and working together. Pooling resources, sharing information, connecting the dots. It is fragmentation that makes us vulnerable.
To face terrorism, we have to move beyond national security – and work together towards a genuine and effective Security Union.
Over the past few months, we proposed to reinforce the existing Schengen Information System and to create new databases to know better who gets in and out of the European Union.
We are closing down avenues for terrorists to travel, to train, to finance themselves, and to acquire weapons and explosives.
We must also be proactive and reinforce our efforts to better understand the causes of radicalisation and strengthen our response bottom-up.
Security is one more tangible example that we need more Europe to address globalised challenges.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
as I mentioned in the beginning, in March, we celebrate 60 years since the adoption of the Rome Treaty: 60 years of institutionalised peace, stability and unity.
This is all the more important at present, when we continue to have instability and conflict in our neighbourhood.
Europe is at a historical crossroad today, where its fundamental values of unity and cohesion are at stake.
Today one of the biggest threats to the unity and future of Europe are the rise of populism, nationalism and xenophobia.
These voices fuel our citizens' fears and worries. In this context and responding to our duty, we presented last week with President Juncker some reflections on the future of Europe, to mark the beginning of the process to discuss how we envisage our future.
We have put forward 5 scenarios – they are neither mutually exclusive, nor exhaustive. We made clear that we cannot take for granted what we have achieved so far and that the best option is to move ahead in unity as EU27.
This approach is and should always be in line with the basic principles enshrined in the Treaty: our common values and our duty for solidarity among people and Member States.
This is why I want to make one thing very clear: it is a fundamental value of the democracies that form the European Union to protect people in need.
While we must continue our work to make the European Union and the world a safer place, these efforts must never come at the expense of our openness.
Moreover, after peace and stability, freedom of movement is what is most cherished by Europeans, particularly by you, the younger generation.
It is one of the biggest achievements of the European Union – and Switzerland, being part of Schengen, knows this too.
I can't imagine the future of Europe with internal borders. Let us not be influenced by those who preach intolerance, exclusion and isolation.
It is essential that we remember our common past, and that we keep in mind that our future can only be common too.
Speaking from the current generation to the next, this is the crucial task that you, our next generation of leaders, are already inheriting.
The future and the unity of this continent, of the European project at large, lies in your hands.
Thank you.
