By Anadolu Agency
October 19, 2023 9:09 amBRUSSELS
The EU’s interior ministers met in Luxembourg on Thursday to discuss the pressing issue of enhancing security in the Schengen area.
Ylva Johansson, the EU commissioner responsible for internal affairs, said at the beginning of the meeting that the issue of ensuring the security of the Schengen area in the aftermath of the attacks in Arras, France on Oct. 13 and Brussels, Belgium’s capital, on Oct. 16, would be one of the top priorities on the agenda of the meeting.
Another critical topic for discussion, Johansson said, is expediting the return of individuals within the EU who have not been granted asylum.
She disclosed that there has been a 20% increase in the number of people who returned this year, but she stressed the need for further action.
“Especially, we must forcibly and immediately deport individuals who pose a security threat to our citizens and the Union,” Johansson said.
Moreover, Johansson warned that third countries that do not cooperate in the repatriation of their citizens will face disadvantages when applying for Schengen visas.
She also highlighted the recent developments in the migration and asylum agreement.
After EU countries reached an agreement on the latest element of this agreement, which includes new rules for managing migration crises, trilateral negotiations between the parliament, council, and commission have commenced, she said.
On Thursday, interior ministers will also delve into the potential impact of the Israel-Palestine conflict on the EU’s migration dimension.
Since the migrant crisis of 2015-2016, the EU has been exploring strategies to address irregular migration.
The 2020 Migration and Asylum Agreement, proposed by the EU Commission, encompasses key elements such as the equitable distribution of migrants among member countries, burden-sharing, bolstering the external borders of the Union, expediting asylum application processing, and facilitating the return of rejected applicants to their countries of origin.
However, divergent attitudes among member countries have thus far impeded an agreement.
Meanwhile, the EU is preparing measures to give member states more leeway in suspending visa-free travel agreements.
EU tightens visa-free travel policy
In a statement issued by the EU Commission, it was emphasized that the evolving geopolitical context has brought along new challenges related to visa-free travel.
The statement cited “increased irregular migration due to discrepancies with the EU’s visa policy, citizenship programs for investors in visa-free countries, or the state-supported instrumentalization of migrants” as examples of hybrid threats.
According to the new rules, member states will be able to put forward broader and more flexible justifications for suspending visa-free travel practices.
The EU is concerned about the entry of irregular migrants from some of the 60 countries where the EU implements a visa-free regime.
Ylva Johansson, the EU commissioner responsible for internal affairs, said in her comments on the matter that approximately 150,000 people from third countries where the EU has a visa-free travel arrangement applied for asylum last year.
“Visa-free travel should not be used in this way,” she stressed.
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