Brussels, 13/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The comments on Schengen by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is currently engaged in his campaign for re-election, brought a general outcry in the corridors and chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday 13 March.
Sarkozy threatened to suspend France's participation in the Schengen accords if no improvement in the management of the open border area is apparent in the next 12 months (see EUROPE 10572). Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE) told press: “Saying that half of all immigrants have to leave France, attacking halal and at the same time attacking other partners on Schengen! I have to wonder just who is the extreme Right candidate? Is it Le Penn (Ed: The far-Right candidate) or is it Sarkozy?” Hannes Swoboda (S&D) brandished his passport in the chamber to illustrate the possibility that MEPs might once again have to go through Customs checks when travelling to Strasbourg. Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Greens/EFA) placed the French president's comments in their context, one where Greece is having difficulty controlling part of its border with Turkey, which has become a transit country for people trying to enter the EU. “We have to stop provoking Turkey with stupid resolutions in order to achieve an agreement on their tightening up their border”, Cohn-Bendit said. Joseph Daul (EPP) supported the initiatives taken by Commissioner Cecilia Malmström to increase the mutual confidence necessary for freedom of movement. (MD/transl.rt)