Verklaring Hongaarse minister Pintér over resultaten EU-voorzitterschap op onder meer het gebied van migratie (en)

We have accomplished what we planned, stated Minister of Home Affairs, Sándor Pintér in Brussels on 15 June 2011. He drew a balance on the Hungarian Presidency in the committee of the European Parliament on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Mr. Pintér reminded the representatives that one of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency in the area of home affairs was combatting organised crime. “This had not been dealt with since 2000 by any former Presidency; we have done it, we have completed this work,” the Minister said, holding up the manual and CD bringing together Member State good practices, which were issued by the Hungarian Presidency. He then symbolically presented them to the European Parliament (EP) LIBE i Committee.

The Minister called the changes in North Africa a great challenge, and considered the reaction of the Hungarian Presidency very rapid. “I must highlight, that extremely quick and efficient responses were made. We activated the Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) very quickly,” he stated. He added that the EU has implemented the short and medium term measures, granted significant aid (€100 million) to the southern EU Member States for handling illegal migration. “We have strengthened the Frontex i border control agency, which has been appreciated by others, as well,” he said.

Mr. Pintér pointed out that owing to the influx of migrants from North Africa, certain Member States have raised the issue of unilaterally restoring control on the internal borders. In reaction to this, the Minister stressed, "It is one of the greatest achievements that the citizens can move freely, and we must not give this up.”

Concerning the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania - one of the highlighted priorities of the Hungarian Presidency - Mr. Pintér underlined that the 9 June meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council have adopted conclusions. These affirmed that the two countries comply with the technical requirements. He pointed out that according to the conclusions, the Council will return to the matter in September, and stressed that he was convinced that this Hungarian Presidency objective would be accomplished at that time also.

One Parliament Committee representative claimed that the Hungarian Presidency could not play a leading role and that its response to the crisis in North Africa was not appropriate. To refute this claim, Mr. Pintér enumerated that during the term of the Hungarian Presidency, 25 Council conclusions were adopted, as well as 12 Council resolutions, that one directive and one regulation were enacted and another directive is ready for adoption. Concerning the modification of the regulation on Frontex, there are only three matters, which remains to be discussed. Therefore, this semester has meant progress, he concluded.

Speaking about the issue of migrants from Africa, Mr. Pintér pointed out that, “no citizen of the Union was harmed,” and in Malta “former attempts to attenuate the pressure of migrants had also been unsuccessful,” but now “during the term of the Hungarian Presidency, we have transferred 1024 migrants from Malta.”

Significant progress has been made in the development of passenger data records with Australia. The agreement is now very close, Mr Pintér said, adding that we still need further negotiations with Canada and the United States.

The Minister qualified certain partial results as progress as well, among which he mentioned the amendment to the directive on permanent residency, the five unofficial trialogues held on the amendment on the qualification directive; and the expert level negotiations concerning the Eurodac regulation.