Video: https://youtu.be/HWuBeVapDOA
You know that we have only some months before the European elections, and we have to do our job in the meantime in order to finalise key files. I hope the ministers today will show readiness and political will in order to move forward. We have done a lot, we have made great progress in the last months and years in the field of the external dimension of migration – better cooperation with third countries, strengthening our common European borders. But we are still lagging behind on the internal dimension of migration. This is what I meant before when I said we have to push forward very important files.
One of our priorities is of course is to work and decide on the asylum reform. On the other hand, we have to do more on the returns file and of course in strengthening the revised European Border and Coast Guard. In the field of security, we have interoperability, hopefully things will move well within the next days so we can start very soon. Terrorist content online: Last night, we had a very important meeting here in Brussels of the EU Internet Forum and discussed this issue. Let us hope that the ministers will agree on their negotiation position to start negotiations with the Parliament as soon as possible.
I want to tell you one thing: The clock is ticking; we are running out of time. The real productive time ahead is only four months. So during this period, we have to work on shared responsibility in order to deliver. The Council and the Commission will work very closely together as we have done during the last years. I am quite optimistic and I look forward to this very interesting debate today.
Q 10,000 personnel for Frontex, still realistic?
It is realistic because if we want to really create what is our ambition – a genuine European border police – we need people, equipment and money. These are the ingredients of our success. So 10,000 people is exactly what we need. What we mean by saying that: a standing corps of 10,000 people. Because we do not know what the future is holding for us, we live in a very volatile international environment. So we need the necessary mechanisms in order to respond if it is necessary in the future, to a request of every MS in the EU. We should not allow to live again through what we lived in the year 2015. We have worked very hard during the last months to put on the table this work. Yes it is realistic, but it also has to do with the responsible way the MS will assess this proposal. I think it is exactly what we shall need in the future.
Q Realistic until 2020?
Everything is possible. It depends on our political will and determination. If we want to slow down processes, it is very easy. If we want to step up our efforts, it is more difficult but I believe it is a question of responsibility and believe me, it is our duty to do it
Q No unity of UN Migration Compact?
This is another very important issue. You know I will represent the EU in Marrakesh next week. I will repeat what I said some days ago: The ones who oppose the Global Compact, have they read it? It is only a framework of cooperation with all countries, and for us Europeans very important because it is a framework of cooperation with Africa countries. And something which is also very important: It is not binding; it does not put into question national sovereignty. So I think the ones who oppose that, they do not have strong arguments. On the other hand, it is very important for the EU to speak with one voice.
Q Happy with the Austrian Presidency?
Of course.