Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission and Romania have launched a border control pilot project, with the EC stressing the importance of efficient border management.
In a statement released on Friday, the Commission noted that the EU is facing a challenge that requires coordinated and comprehensive solutions which can only be found through cooperation.
The EC stressed the importance of implementing sustainable solutions, making border management efficient, and speeding up asylum and deportation processes to improve the functioning of the EU’s migration system.
The Commission reminded that it proposed solutions to address the EU’s migration challenges in January and February this year and “called for implementing key operational actions in the area of border protection, asylum, and return.”
It noted that, as part of the initiative, interested member states can set up pilot projects with the EC to speed up asylum and deportation processes.
“Following close cooperation between the European Commission and the Romanian authorities, an agreement was reached on launching a pilot project in Romania today,” the Commission pointed out.
Several tools to be tested
The project foresees Romania’s implementation of several tools for border control, asylum and deportation, and international cooperation, with the EC stressing that it builds on Romania’s good practices in these areas.
The Commission pointed out that Romania will implement the project with “strong operational, technical and financial support” of EU bodies and institutions.
Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, thanked Romania “for agreeing to showcase at the EU level best practices on fast asylum and return procedures, building on their good practices and solid cooperation with the neighboring countries.”
“With this pilot project, Romania brings an extremely valuable contribution to the common effort at the EU level to manage migration challenges in an effective, common, and united way,” she concluded.
Lucian Bode, Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs, pointed out that the government “decided to join this project as a signal of Romania’s deep commitment and substantial contribution to the implementation of the European Council conclusions.”
He added that Romania “is acting in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility at the EU level and continues to play an active part in shaping common solutions to migration and border management.”
