On behalf of the Presidency of the Council, Luxembourg Minister Nicolas Schmit presented the renewed EU Internal Security Strategy to the European Parliament in plenary session
Nicolas Schmit, minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy
Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg's minister responsible for relations with the European Parliament during the Presidency of the Council of the EU, addressed the plenary session in Strasbourg on 7 July 2015, during a debate on the European Agenda for Security 2015-2020. The Agenda, which sets out European Union priorities and principles in the field of security is based on a Communication adopted by the European Commission on 28 April 2015 and the subsequent Council Conclusions on the Renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy (ISS) of 16 June 2015.
Nicolas Schmit presented MEPs with the Council's vision for the implementation of the strategy, as well as cooperation with the European Parliament in this regard. The Minister spoke in response to a question for an oral answer from Claude Moraes (S&D), on behalf of the Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE), chaired by the latter.
Recalling the particular context in recent months marked by tragic attacks, the Minister emphasised that citizens are entitled to ”the highest possible level of security”. Security is among the major priorities of the Presidency, which will ”concentrate all its efforts ”on the Renewed Security Strategy, stated Nicolas Schmit, before setting out the strategy adopted by the Council. The Strategy ”is broadly based on the findings and principles ”set out in the Commission Communication and should be viewed as a ”common and shared agenda among European institutions” assuring MEPs that the Council and Commission took account of the Parliament Resolution of 17 December 2014 in drafting their respective texts.
Nicolas Schmit noted that the Council strategy has identified three major priorities: fighting terrorism - with special attention to preventing radicalisation, the issue of foreign fighters and border controls -, preventing and fighting serious organised crime, as well as cybercrime. In this regard, the Minister emphasised the importance of respect for fundamental rights and liberties, as a ”fundamental principle” in the context of the Security Strategy. Schmit also noted that the Strategy constitutes a ”comprehensive, multidisciplinary and integrated approach based on intelligence”, and that the accessibility, availability and exchange of intelligence shall remain ”crucial” over the coming years.
The Luxembourg Minister expressed the view that special attention should be given to the interoperability of different systems. He further emphasised that coordination of investigations and proceedings should be encouraged and improved, along with the use of joint investigation teams, judicial cooperation and mutual recognition procedures. Moreover, there is an ongoing need to ”develop and support” agencies such as Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and CEPOL, ”which play a crucial role” in EU internal security. In this context, the Presidency will continue negotiations with the Parliament on the new Europol Regulation with a view to equipping the Agency with the tools to ”put its full potential to work for the Member States”.
Nicolas Schmit also reminded MEPs of the need to strengthen operational cooperation between EU countries and improve border management capacities. Similarly, there should be a focus on preventing criminality, in particular organised financial crime and terrorist attacks, as well as a ”rapid and flexible” intelligence-based approach, so that the EU can ”offer a comprehensive and coordinated response to emerging and ever evolving threats”. Finally, existing legislative tools should be consolidated and applied more effectively.
Regarding the effective implementation of the Strategy, the Minister noted that the Council will begin to discuss in the context of the Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI). In this regard, Nicolas Schmit announced that the Presidency will address the measure regarding the implementation of the Strategy in detail for the first time in an informal meeting of COSI and the Coordinating Committee in the area of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (CATS) on 22 and 23 July 2015 in Luxembourg.
The Minister also reassured MEPs that the Presidency will work closely with the Commission and other key players such as EU agencies and that the COSI Chair will inform the LIBE Committee of their work. ”We will of course take the latest European Parliament resolution into account”, along with the recommendations set out therein, ”as we have done in the past”, the Minister added, referring in particular to the principle of proportionality and democratic control exercised by the European Parliament and national parliaments.
Following the debate, the Minister took a moment to emphasise that security is a fundamental right and that security and freedom are ”inextricably linked” in our ”open societies”.
Nicolas Schmit further noted that both the Council and the Luxembourg Presidency attach particular importance to the contributions made and concerns expressed by the European Parliament and the implementation of the Internal Security Strategy ”will contribute to strengthening a Union that protects its citizens while fully respecting rights and liberties”, as part of an ”effort shared by all".
For more information
On this topic