Brussels, 26/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU border control agency Frontex warned on Wednesday 25 May against projects to restore internal border checks within the Schengen area, given the risk of massive immigration from North Africa, AFP reports.
“We cannot solve the problem, no matter if we build a fence. A fence is not a solution”, said Ilkka Laitinen, Frontex Director, speaking during a conference in Warsaw. He added that the “most sustainable solution is to tackle the causes”.
According to Laitinen, it is essential for European governments to combine the migration debate with discussions about foreign, trade and development policies to help regions such as North Africa. Mentioned earlier in the context of debates on accession to the Schengen area by Sofia and Bucharest or in relation to the migration situation in Greece, the idea of strengthening the current Schengen safeguard clause allowing internal border checks was officially relaunched in the Franco-Italian position of 26 April after waves of Tunisian migrants arrived in Lampedusa. The Commission's communication of 4 May on migration took up the idea.
During the conference in Warsaw, AFP continues, Frontex Director Laitinen spoke of his aspirations, and especially of the hope that EU member states would authorise Frontex to step up border surveillance services in neighbouring regions. Review of the agency's regulations, mainly allowing Frontex to eventually buy or lease its own equipment, is currently being discussed between Council and the European Parliament, which voted its report in March this year. Member states will attempt, on 9 and 10 June in Luxemburg, to reach an agreement with the EP or a Council common position. According to sources, outstanding points between the two institutions concern the creation of an authority/official responsible for overseeing Frontex operations or the method of cooperation between Frontex and third countries. (S.P./transl.jl)