Meeste landen willen interne grenzen open houden (en)

“Most Member States would choose to preserve the Schengen system with no internal border control, as this is one of the most important accomplishments of the EU,” summarised Hungarian Home Minister, Sándor Pintér, he extraordinary meeting of the Home Affairs Council in Brussels, on 12 May 2011. Mr Pintér called the convening of the meeting correct; and the discussions were fruitful.

At the press conference held during the Council meeting, the Hungarian Home Minister highlighted that, “The Ministers of all Member States, participated in the meeting.”

The two most important items on the agenda of the extraordinary meeting of the Council was the management of the flow of refugees from the South Mediterranean region and the establishment of a Common Asylum System by 2012.

The interior ministers discussed what has happened since their last meeting of 11-12 April, in which they accepted guidelines for further action. They discussed the Commission’s communication on migration, dated 4 May 2011. The Commission proposed the introduction of a mechanism, which should be used as a last resort and in truly critical circumstances only; and allow the coordinated and temporary re-introduction of controls, based on objective criteria and respecting the community method.

To preserve free movement of persons

“Each minister was clearly of the opinion, that the free movement of persons in the Union, is one of the most important accomplishments of the EU and should be preserved,” Mr Pintér said. He confirmed twice at the press conference, that according to the opinion of the majority, internal border control should not be restored based on decisions of individual Member States, as this could trigger a chain reaction and shake the mutual trust of Member States.

Acting on behalf of the Commission, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström also highlighted that Member States should take no unilateral action. “We need to have increased clarity in rules, in order to avoid unilateral and disproportionate steps by Member States,” she stated. Ms Malmström went on to say, it was a very good and useful discussion.

At the press conference Mr Pintér called the Commission’s communication of 4 May “outstanding”. The European Council’s meeting of 24 June 2011 will decide on the approval of the proposals contained in the Communication.

The European Council has already dealt with the events in North Africa twice: in its declaration accepted at the meeting of 11 March 2011, and in the conclusions of its meeting held on 24-25 March 2011.

Temporary restoration of border control in Denmark

The Danish Government decided on the temporary restoration of border control on the Danish-German and Danish-Swedish borders, on the day before the meeting of Ministers. The Danish Minister informed the Council at the beginning of the meeting and assured them that the decision was made in utmost consideration of the Schengen rules, Mr Pintér told the press conference. According to Ms Malmström, there was no debate on the decision of Denmark, nobody questions of the Danish Minister either. The Commission will study the arguments for the Danish decision, the Commissioner added.

Majority backs establishment of Common Asylum System

At the press conference, Mr Pintér noted that the great majority of the Ministers are committed to establishing a Common Asylum System in 2012. He was hopeful that the debate of the extraordinary meeting of the Council, was an appropriate preparation for the meeting of the Home Affairs Council to be held on 9 June, after which the issue will be submitted to the June meeting of the European Council. “We are convinced that we will get closer to the result” said the Hungarian Minister of Home Affairs.

Ms Malmström highlighted that today, there are still huge differences in asylum policies of Member States. “One and the same applicant for asylum can have a 70 or 75 percent chance of being granted asylum in one country, and less than one percent with the same reasons in another country. And this is in the European Union, with the same values and the same legislation” Ms Malmström stated. Differences lead to abuse, confusions, costs, human sufferings, she added. Ms Malmström expressed hopes that a political agreement will be reached by the summer, on the establishment of the Common Asylum System.

Accession of Romania and Bulgaria

In the press conference Mr Pintér expressed his conviction that the debate on the review of the Schengen system, “Will not have any effect on accession.” He added that the current debate is “a different kind of debate, a theoretical one, and is not one about whether Romania or Bulgaria are prepared for accession.”