Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission has presented plans to strengthen border control and speed up deportation processes.
The EC pointed out in a statement released on Tuesday that the EU integrated border management (EIBM) strategy for the next five years includes mutual recognition of deportation decisions.
The EU Council stressed the importance of effective border control at the meeting in February and added that the bloc has to protect its land and sea borders as part of broader efforts to manage migration.
The Commission noted that this is the first “multiannual strategic policy cycle on European integrated border management for the next five years.”
Margaritis Schinas, European Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, pointed out “strong external borders are an essential part of our comprehensive approach to migration and asylum, and the cornerstone of our security union.”
He added that the EC proposed one-size-fits-all rules for migration so that all EU member states “are guided by the same set of common principles and produce results on the ground.”
According to Schinas, the EC is “creating much more than an operational framework… we are building step-by-step a common EU culture of migration management.”
Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, stated that “these proposals are about continuing to develop migration and asylum management that is fully functioning.”
Dysfunctional border management
She warned that EU’s border control and migration management are not functional and expressed belief that EC’s proposals will help to “achieve that functionality.”
According to Johansson, closer cooperation on border management will “give more credibility on return rates… that way we can build trust to deliver on all aspects of migration management, including sustainable legal pathways.”
The Commission stressed that the proposal is the result of cooperation between EU institutions and expressed belief that it would lead “to a shared vision on external border management.”
The main components of the new strategy include tighter border control, search and rescue, a common system for deportation, closer cooperation with non-EU countries and full respect for rights.
The EC noted that an effective deportation system would discourage illegal migration and human trafficking, and concluded that it will be strengthened by mutual recognition of deportation decisions.