The need for member state solidarity when it came to burden sharing in migration was highlighted today by Migration Commissioner Designate Dimitris Avramopoulos in his presentation to the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee at the start of his grilling.
Mr Avramopoulos said he would order a study into the need for further changes to the Dublic Treaty.
He said that as a union committed to upholding human rights, it was Europe’s duty to offer protection and respect human rights and one had to make sure that Europe would support the smooth integration of migrants in society.
However, the union had to improve its capacity to handle the crisis and support those facing pressures on their systems.
More solidarity was needed and this was only possible if member states trusted each other and carried out their responsibilities.
The EU, he said, could only be credible if it tackled irregular migration in full respect of fundamental rights. Rejected applications, he said, had to be treated with efficient return.
The EU also had to reinforce cooperation with countries of origin as well as international and non-governmental organisations.
It needed to implement resettlement programmes as much as possible and have a secure legal framework
It had to to have efficient border control without making Europe a fortress. Frontex, he said, should be used to ensure European solidarity. But were the tools available sufficient, he asked.
Mr Avramopoulos noted that migratory pressure at the border were steadily increasing and the EU’s work should be to address the problem.
“We have to bring those who exploit the needs of people in distress to justice,” he said.
MALTESE MEPS' QUESTIONS
Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola asked Mr Avramopoulos whether the EU Commission was willing to discuss and promote a fair system of distribution and a better mechanism for the fairer sharing of responsibility among Member States.
Mr Avramopoulos said Frontex was doing a very good job, as was the Mare Nostrum programme. “I don’t know what will happen in the future, but Operation Triton will further help Frontex in its work and we will work to help them. It is also true, as you said, that we do not have enough financing, but we have €90 million that have been accepted and there will be another €20 million, but yes of course, we will demand more monies and we will help and reinforce Frontex and international cooperation in the area.”
On asylum, Dr Metsola asked the Commissioner-Designate for his views on a potential review of the Dublin Regulation and on the Commission’s willingness to discuss and promote systems that would ensure a fairer sharing of responsibility among Member States.
Mr Avramopoulos said the countries that faced the most pressure must be helped and the EU should show more solidarity towards these countries. To do this there was need for a very good study, very good preparation and very good cooperation among the member states.
On the Dublin Regulation, the Commissioner-Designate gave his commitment to review aspects of this regulation. "We have to see how it works everywhere in Europe," he said, adding that the basic principle of solidarity had to be respected by all.
Later, in reply to a question by new MEP Miriam Dalli, the Commissioner-designate said his intention was to strengthen Frontex. At present it did not have the resources it needed, he said.
Frontex could develop into an authority which not only protected borders, but also saved lives.
ISIS THREAT
The commissioner-designate said there was a need for closer collaboration between the services of member states about the danger posed by ISIS, including the Europeans who went to Syria and Iraq to fight with the group and then returned.
The starting point was that the migrants were not potential terrorists but people fleeing danger who were seeking solidarity and respect for democracy.