Hongaars voorzitterschap wil vrij verkeer van personen in Schengengebied behouden (en)

The EU assists Member States that were affected by the mass influx of North African refugees, and at the same time, it preserves and protects the major achievement of the free movement of persons in the Schengen area, Minister of State for EU Affairs, Eniko Gyori stated at the European Parliament’s debate in Strasbourg, on 10 May 2011.

“Over the past months, the EU and its Member States have already made available approximately 96 million euro of emergency humanitarian aid, and we are committed to continue to provide further support as and when the situation requires it,” said the Minister of State. The most directly affected countries are receiving contributions of funding, equipment and technical expertise, Ms Gyori said. Earlier, the Commission announced that Italy and Malta could receive 25 million euro from emergency funds. “Some Member States - among them Hungary - have announced that they are ready to relocate refugees from Malta,” Ms Gyori added.

Apart from these measures, the Council remains fully committed to the further development of the Common European Asylum System. Related work is underway in the Council and the Parliament, the Minister of State said.

The Minister of State reminded MEPs of the Frontex European Border Agency’s Joint Operation “Hermes”, which was launched in the wake of North African developments on waters near Italy, at the request of the Italian government. The Council asked Member States to provide Frontex supplementary funds, and the strengthening of the Border Agency, has become a high priority, she added.

Eniko Gyori stressed that not only the external borders of the EU are affected by the North African events, but also the freedom of movement within the EU. In relation to this issue, she underlined that the Presidency considers the free movement of persons within the Schengen area, a major achievement. She reassured the Parliament that it is the intention of the Presidency and all Member States, to preserve and protect the free movement of EU citizens.

She announced that at the Home Affairs Council’s extraordinary meeting, to be held on 12 May, the Presidency plans to initiate discussions on the Commission’s Communication, put forward on 4 May. In this document, the Commission proposed the introduction of a mechanism, which should be used as a last resort and in truly critical circumstances; and allow the coordinated and temporary reintroduction of controls, based on objective criteria and respecting the community method. The Home Affairs Council will also discuss the Commission’s ideas for the revision of the Schengen evaluation mechanism, and the proposed guidelines, to ensure the coherent implementation and interpretation of the Schengen rules, the Minister of State added.