Austrian Magnus Brunner, candidate for the post of European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, who will be heard on 5 November by the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE), will confirm Ursula von der Leyen’s commitment to strengthening the EU’s tools on return policy, according to the answers given to MEPs on Tuesday 22 October.
In his answers, he says that he will be presenting a new ‘Returns’ Directive to “speed up and simplify returns, defining clear obligations of cooperation for the returnee, effectively streamlining the process, digitalising case management and making provision for mutual recognition of each other’s return decisions”.
He also recalls the review planned for mid-2025 of the ‘safe third country’ concept, but remains cautious, at this stage, about ‘return hubs’, in third countries that are part of the ‘innovative solutions’ to reduce irregular arrivals, promoted by more than 15 Member States and by Ursula von der Leyen.
He does not take a position on this issue, but indicates that he will explore new ways of strengthening returns beyond the Pact on Migration and Asylum’, drawing notably on the work carried out by IOM and UNHCR in third countries.
Another area of work will be visa policy, particularly in relation to trade and development, in order to promote cooperation on readmission with third countries.
EU policies “need to be leveraged to ensure that countries accept to take back own nationals. In parallel, it is essential to offer legal pathways and resettlement opportunities for those in need of protection, which can act as incentives to enhance cooperation on readmission”, he also writes.
Promising a “fair, humane and comprehensive approach” that benefits both EU and third countries, the Austrian will take into account the entire journey of migrants “by implementing a ‘whole-of-route’ approach – from the country of origin, through the countries of transit, to the destination – while respecting national sovereignty, the EU’s values and legal framework, fundamental rights and international obligations. These requirements will remain central to all cooperation efforts with third countries, including in all comprehensive partnerships”.
On the instrumentalisation of migration, currently being orchestrated by Minsk and Moscow, Magnus Brunner pledges his full support to the countries concerned and is open to solutions that complement the ‘Pact’.
“I will work to make sure that Member States faced with a situation where a hostile State is exerting pressure at the external borders have the right tools to effectively respond. In this context, I will see how the responses brought by the Schengen Borders Code and the Crisis and force majeure Regulation could be further complemented”, he writes.
Mr Brunner also takes up Ursula von der Leyen’s plan to help Member States speed up the implementation of certain elements of the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’, while preserving the balance of the reform. He pledges as well to increase the number of Frontex agents to 30,000 under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, which will require a new mandate.
Commenting on the Schengen area, the Austrian will do his utmost to ensure that the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania becomes a reality, whereas Vienna has blocked this step until now.
“While Bulgaria and Romania continue to meet all the conditions to become full members of the Schengen area – since 2011 – it is both the prerogative and the responsibility of the Council to decide on abolishing the remaining controls at the internal land borders. If the Council does not take a decision before the start of the new mandate, if confirmed as a Member of the Commission, I will continue to give full support to this process with the same intensity as my predecessors. Bulgaria and Romania are entitled to reap the full benefits of the Schengen area. And the lifting of land border checks will make our Schengen area stronger and safer”, he writes.
On police access to data for investigations and encryption, the candidate is also taking a cautious approach, with no legislative announcement. He advocates a “balanced and legally sound approach to ensuring effective access to data for law enforcement and judicial authorities, while respecting privacy and data protection as well as cybersecurity requirements and taking technological aspects into account”.
The candidate also reiterates his commitment to the fight against terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking.
Link to his answers: https://aeur.eu/f/dzu (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)