E. VENIZELOS: Mr. President, Honourable Members,
The agreement reached by the Council and the European Parliament on the draft Regulation regarding Sea Border Operations, which are coordinated by FRONTEX, constitutes an important achievement for the two co-legislators. It has significant political and legal implications for the Union.
The agreement was reached in a very short time after intensive negotiations. Our challenge was to formulate a text and meet the tight deadlines for the adoption of the new legal instrument before the European elections, in order to be in compliance with the relevant judgment of the European Court of Justice.
The end result is a carefully crafted compromise based on a package approach, which has involved concessions from both sides. It is a text which is balanced, respects the rights of concerned individuals, and at the same time continues to serve the interests of Member States, who will be called upon to implement it when participating in FRONTEX operations.
The Presidency would like to take this opportunity to thank the Rapporteur, Mr. Coelho, the Shadow Rapporteurs and, naturally, Commissioner Malmström, for the excellent and systematic work she does and the cooperation she always has with the Council.
This Regulation is expected to contribute significantly to effective border management at the external maritime borders of the Member States. This is of particular importance to the Mediterranean countries of the Union, including Greece. Efficient monitoring of these borders crossings is indispensable in the fight against illegal immigration, and also contributes to ensuring the protection and safety of lives of those in distress at sea. The Regulation is also important in the context of the Task Force for the Mediterranean.
The aim of the Regulation is to provide for a common EU approach on issues linked in particular to detection, interception, search and rescue as well as disembarkation in the context of sea operations coordinated by Frontex. The provisions of this Regulation are based on international legal conventions and should offer legal certainty on issues which may emerge during such operations.
It must be stressed that the Regulation respects the principle of non-refoulement and is in line with the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, as interpreted by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. The Regulation promotes solidarity towards those Member States which, for geographical reasons, are most involved in maritime operations at the EU's external borders. Given the operational complexity and urgency of these operations, the best results can be achieved only through a coordinated and timely response, with the participation of resources from as many Member States as possible.
President, Honourable Members,
I commend the importance of this agreement that has been achieved. It offers us the opportunity set clear rules for the efficient monitoring of the Union's external maritime borders, it enables us to comply with the ECJ ruling, and it enables us to formulate solutions that are in line with European legal culture.
April 16, 2014