Honourable Members,
I have repeatedly underlined that the Schengen framework is part of the solution for the current crisis.
In the last months we have seen as well that sometimes the burden on the national border guard systems of the frontline Member States has proved impossible for them to cope with.
It is then important that the EU can step in quickly to effectively support them.
And that is precisely what we do today with our proposal.
Some elements of our proposal:
We reinforce the obligations of cooperation and information sharing between the Agency and national authorities:
– we set up a monitoring and risk analysis centre which will go hand in hand with a reliable and up-to-date risk analysis, including on relevant internal security threats.
Recent experience shows that the liaison officers can enhance dialogue and good cooperation between the Agency and the National Authorities:
Liaison officers should therefore be seconded by the Agency to specific Member States determined on the basis of risk analysis.
By also assessing the resources and equipment of the Member States, as well as their contingency planning, the Agency will determine whether they are well prepared to meet potential challenges and to identify existing weaknesses.
The Agency will be empowered to require Member States to take corrective measures.
The decisions of the Agency will be binding for the Member State.
The most important element of the new Agency is that it goes beyond what Frontex was able to do, but that we don’t replace Member States’ responsibilities and definitely not their sovereignty.
Basically, where deficiencies persist and national action is not taken, the Commission in cooperation with the Member States will be able to adopt a decision determining that the situation at a particular section of the external borders →requires urgent action and entrusting the Agency with the task of carrying out appropriate operational measures.
The Executive Director will then have to submit an operational plan and will have to draw it up with the Member State within two working days.
The Member State will have to facilitate the execution of the measures set out in the operational plan agreed with the Executive Director.
I want to emphasise the strong preventive part of the Regulation and the much stronger support it will provide to all Member States with external borders.
The ultimate objective is that through stronger preventive actions we can precisely avoid emergency situations where such interventions would be necessary.
The management of the European Borders will become a European responsibility in the true sense. For this, we also foresee the adequate resources:
Currently, contributions of assets and experts to Frontex are provided on a voluntary basis.
For example in the case of Greece Frontex asked Member States to supply 743 guest officers, but only 447 have been provided.
In the future, the Agency will have at its disposal a sufficient number of well-trained experts with the appropriate profiles as well as the relevant technical equipment through a standing corps.
As set out in the EU Action Plan on Return, the Agency should be able to initiate return operations and to assist Member States with the acquisition of travel documents.
For these purposes, a dedicated Return Office will be created within the structure of the Agency.
It will play a key role in return interventions.
European Return Intervention Teams, composed of escorts, and return specialists, will be able to be deployed to Member States subject to particular pressure on their return system.
In urgent situations, Rapid European Return Intervention Teams could be deployed either upon the request of a Member State or on the Agency’s own initiative.
Alongside this, we are proposing to establish a new European travel document for the return of third-country nationals that should be promoted in the context of readmission agreements and should ensure a wider acceptance by third countries.
Since we create a stronger Agency it is equally important to have an adequate complaint mechanism in case a person considers her/its fundamental rights having been violated in the course of operational engagement by the Agency.
Both the European Parliament and the European Ombudsman have stressed the importance of such a mechanism.
I refer here to the report of Ms Metsola and Ms Keller that we discussed in the last Plenary.
Honourable members,
Yes, this proposal includes sensitive parts:
Member States will have to accept to transfer a part of their responsibilities in the framework of the Treaties, while of course keeping their sovereignty.
They will be part of the scheme; nothing can happen without their cooperation.
Our proposal is a European answer to a European issue.
It’s a proposal which will prevent putting at stake our freedom of movement in the Schengen area.
It’s a proposal which proves that the current crisis doesn’t divide us but on the contrary it becomes a catalyst for us to move ahead more united, more decided, more resolved.
What we propose today is precisely what this Parliament has repeatedly asked for: more Europe.
And I count, as always, on your support to this important step forward.