European Interior Ministers “Physical Barriers” | Twelve EU countries are demanding stricter restrictions on migrants

A group of EU member states called on the camp to fund the construction of “physical barriers” to protect external borders. The 12 countries have signed a letter to the European Commission, with EU interior ministers meeting in Luxembourg to deal with the emigration situation amid complaints of express evictions in Greece and Croatia.

In a letter to the European Commission, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Chechnya, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia They insisted on it “Physical sanctions appear to be an effective border security measure that serves the interests of the entire EU, not just the front-line member states.” In this sense, they add, “This legitimate measure must be funded in advance and adequately from the EU budget.”. European Commission spokesman Eric Mammer said he had received the letter and that “we will respond in due course.”

In that letter, all 12 countries refer to the mechanization of migration for political purposes. “The EU must adapt its existing legal framework to new realities that will allow it to adequately address attempts to instruct illegal immigration for political purposes and other mixed threats,” they wrote.

The document was circulated a few hours before the meeting of EU Interior Ministers In which they a Equilibrium in limited progress to negotiate migration policy and general asylum reform. Part of the agenda is to address Concerns about the “instrumentalization” of countries migrating to put pressure on the European Union.

Although the letter did not mention a country, the text echoed complaints made about EU efforts. Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarusian government weakens the federation by allowing immigrants to enter the Schengen area. European Commission this year Warned Morocco after the crisis in Chyota In it they came Thousands of immigrants Until then Spanish border And it mediated with Turkey and allowed it to go to Greece.

“No third country can use our asylum system to exert political pressure and blackmail the EU and its member states or to exploit the current situation in Afghanistan,” the letter said.

The Lithuanian Interior Minister, Agne PilotaidaHe said, “This is a hybrid attack and we need a strong response in these kinds of situations. We understand that it is impossible to defend the Lithuanian and European borders without physical barriers. For now, we can finance a monitoring system, but it is not efficient. ”

Different opinions

For his part Elva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, pointed out that it was not the EU’s responsibility to fund border security. “I fully agree that we need to do a lot more to strengthen the security of our outer borders. I am not opposed to member states building fences, but I do say I do not think it’s a good idea to use European funds for this. “ He referred to the letter sent by 12 European countries.

When Ales Hodges, The Minister of the Interior of Slovenia, The country is currently chairing the EU Council, He was in favor of the letter, he said Opinions differ on this point. “We did not sign the letter, but we do support it. After the disaster in 2015, Slovenia decided to set up fences and fund our budget for them as a member state with no external borders. “If we detain about 50 people a day, it becomes clear that the security of the outer border is not efficient and that it is our duty to protect it,” Hodges said.

Migration and Asylum Agreement

In this regard, the European Convention on Migration and Asylum continues to stagnate Complaints of express discharge in many EU countries. They met last week Press inquiries indicate Greece and Croatia police involved in “hot returns” Irregular settlers in their borders.

Johansson described the complaints as “very worrying” and assured that this would be one of the issues to be resolved during the meeting of European ministers. “It seems to me necessary to fully examine this information and there is a risk of damaging the reputation of the EU,” he said.

The ministers also supported Brussels’ proposals to improve the restrictions and identities of persons crossing the EU’s external borders, although they could not reach an agreement. It is important for the MED5 countries (Spain, Italy, Malta, Cyprus and Greece) to reach a global agreement on the migration and asylum agreement and they do not want to move forward with the isolation agreement.