Reply
E. VENIZELOS: I am certain that the Members of the European Parliament perceive the particular sensitivity that the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU has on this issue. We neighbour on Bulgaria, we have a very long coastline. Like all the European Mediterranean countries, we are under great, daily pressure on our maritime and land borders.
Bulgaria truly is facing an acute problem on its land borders. This problem leads us to understand how critical it is for the cooperation between Europe and Turkey to function effectively on the management of migration flows. Now we can understand the importance of the Readmission Agreement signed a few weeks ago by the EU and Turkey.
Now I think we all understand how important it is for the principle of burden-sharing among member states to be implemented in practice. This is interwoven with solidarity as a fundamental principle of European integration. Of course, in the debates on the level of the Council, the management of migration flows is confronted, on the one hand, as an acute humanitarian problem – as the management of an ongoing, acute humanitarian problem – but also as a security problem.
Because behind the humanitarian pressure, behind those who truly have need of help, those seeking asylum, those who can really be characterized as refugees in accordance with international law, there are also cases of persons who raise an issue of European security.
It is also very important to stress that the handling of this issue is moving on two parallel levels. The first level is the immediate measures. Confronting the situation on the ground right now, when there is a problem, because this problem cannot wait. And here you need practical forms of solidarity and support for countries like Bulgaria.
There is also another level – that of overall planning for the management of migration flows. The Presidency of this semester, which has already worked with the next Presidency – the Italian Presidency – has set this issue as a priority. Because Europe really has to show its capability of effectively managing these issues.
I remind you that, at the October European Council, there was an initial in-depth discussion of this problem, under the pressure of the humanitarian crisis, the tragedy, that is, of Lampedusa. At the December European Council, the results of the action group for the Mediterranean were presented.
A few days ago, in Athens, on 24 and 25 January, an informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Minister was held, with the participation of Ms. Malmstrom, and there was an initial evaluation of the situation, in a follow-up to the conclusions of the action group on the Mediterranean. We have a good, credible foundation for shaping strategic guidelines for the period following Stockholm. Of course, we are awaiting the relevant Commission announcement – we hope in March – so that later, at the June European Council, we can adopt strategic guidelines on these issues.
The day-to-day management of the problem in Bulgaria – as in Greece, in Italy, in Malta – naturally cannot wait even until March, let alone June. It is something that is happening every day, often under conditions of extremely high pressure. So I think we have understood, from the statements made today during the debate, what has to be done. The Commission gave its response. I want to assure you that I will convey to the Council all the observations and concerns expressed here today by all the speakers – not just those who are experiencing the problem as Bulgarian citizens, but from the whole of the EU, because our common European conscience is being tested here.
February 5, 2014