Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ich danke Ihnen und freue mich hier zu sein.
Hier in Berlin.
Hier im Bundestag.
It is a very timely moment to discuss two topics which are high on the agenda in Germany but also in the European Union.
Both will be discussed tonight by the Heads of States in Brussels.
And both are followed closely by citizens in all countries.
The challenges of the refugee flows as well as the recent terrorist attacks have shown that no country can do this alone.
They have shown that Europe’s unity can be put into question,that free movement and Schengen can be put into question.
Berlin ist ein Symbol für die Wiedervereinigung Europas!
Schengen ist ein Symbol von Europa!
Let me first start with migration.
This year, more than 1.5 million people have crossed the European borders, and more than 1 million have arrived here in Germany.
In light of the current challenges we must act together in order to build a coordinated and sustainable response across Europe.
That is why the Commission has presented in May the European Agenda on Migration.
This Agenda was followed immediately by very concrete and operational proposals and measures.
If we want to safeguard free movement within the EU, if we want to allow citizens to do shopping, to travel or to work in neighbourhood countries without queuing hours at an internal border, we have to better protect external borders.
The external borders of EU Member States are also the external borders of the EU.
This is why, this week, the Commission presented an ambitious Border package.
The most visible element of our package is certainly the establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard.
The current approach has shown some limits.
We need common Union standards for border management.
We need a reserve of European Border Guards and technical equipment that can be immediately deployed.
We need the possibility to intervene on the ground when deficiencies are identified.
We need efficient return of irregular migrants who are not allowed to stay in the EU.
For all this we need an Agency which reinforces the current Frontex Agency.
This is what we proposed on Tuesday.
While the Commission can offer support and solidarity to ensure external border control in order to preserve the integrity of the Schengen area, it is the Member States who are responsible for controlling their borders.
We do not put into question their sovereignty.
But of course, it’s not just about borders.
The hotspot concept and the relocation mechanism of refugees within the EU are essential parts of our broader strategy to ensure more controlled management of irregular inflow along the estern Balkans migratory route.
So far, only 208 people have been relocated – we need to speed up this process drastically.
We are working very closely with the Italian and Greek authorities to ensure that all hotspots become operational rapidly, so that arriving migrants are identified, registered and processed in line with the EU acquis.
A hotspot on Lampedusa and a hotspot on Lesvos are now operational and the roll-out of nine other hotspots is planned shortly.
The hotspot approach is also key to meeting security concerns through systematic security checks of migrants on arrival.
Allow me to express gratitude to Germany for its efforts in this process.
For instance, Germany has recently made 15 fingerprinting machines available to Greece.
This sets a good example for other EU Member States.
We also need to make sure that the information and intelligence gathered in hotspots serves to support investigations including prosecutions against migrant smuggling and trafficking networks.
Europol is currently setting up a European Migrant Smuggling Centre to act as a European information hub to support Member States in this regard.
But we must be aware that relocation is a temporary fix.
This is why the Commission will make proposals for reform of the Dublin system by March 2016.
Dublin was designed as a mechanism to determine which Member State has to examine an asylum application, but not as a solidarity instrument for ensuring an equitable responsibility sharing among Member States.
This dimension must be added, as the current uneven distribution is clearly unsustainable.
Following the reinvigoration of the relations with Turkey, we have also recommended on Tuesday, a separate voluntary humanitarian admission scheme to offer protection to people displaced by the Syrian crisis staying in Turkey.
This scheme should enable people displaced to be admitted to the EU rapidly and in a safe and orderly manner.
But of course our discussions with Turkey are broader and should help to limit the flows to the EU with the implementation of an action plan.
Finally, while people in need of protection must get protection, we must become better at returning those who have no legal right to stay.
A functional return system is an absolute priority.
This also implies that Member States should remove legal or administrative impediments at national level, which might impede swift return procedures.
And the new Return Office within the future Border Agency will also contribute to scaling up returns.
Now, on terrorism and security issues.
The Paris attacks have shown again how important European cooperation and exchange of information is.
Terrorists and criminals travel as we do all.
In order to fight terrorism effectively and decisively, we must address our biggest vulnerability: trust and information sharing.
That is where our efforts are still lacking. We need to share more with each other.
Inter-agency cooperation and exchange of information between the Member States is crucial.
Temporary reintroduction of border controls for public security is possible if proportionate.
It is even foreseen in the legislation.
But more permanent border control is not how we will fight those that want to attack our societies.
Walls and fences will not save us from terrorism.
We need to make better use of all the instruments we have including at EU level.
The Schengen Information System (SIS) is an indispensable tool in our arsenal.
Member States, including Germany, must improve the quality of the information they put in the system.
Without good quality data, how can officers on the ground do their job?
How can they identify foreign terrorist fighters who leave to Syria and come back?
These elements can ensure proper checks at our external borders.
And in order to improve security checks, we proposed on Tuesday that all people including EU citizens are mandatorily controlled when crossing external borders.
This should help to identify foreign fighters as well as our proposed legislation on criminalising terrorist acts which includes travelling for terrorist purposes.
And we have done more. We proposed clear legislation on acquisition and possession of firearms.
We adopted a Regulation on deactivation of firearms.
We presented clear actions to fight illegal trafficking of firearms.
Honourable Members,
Germany is a key partner for us.
We count on the ongoing support of the German Bundestag in managing the difficult situation that Europe is facing, and we stand ready to continue to support Germany.
As Christmas and the end of the year approach, we look back at a year of many challenges but also accomplishments.
2016 will bring us further homework, and it is only with a united approach that we can move forward.