EU home affairs ministers met informally in Warsaw on Thursday 30 January to hold discussions with the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner. Discussions covered their requirements in terms of tools and new directions for strengthening the EU’s internal security.
At the end of the discussion, the Commissioner listed the challenges and the scale of the threats facing Member States, ranging from organised crime to deliberate sabotage – particularly in respect of critical infrastructures – and online radicalisation. Security “is a collective responsibility”, he added, and as much a “fundamental right of society” as it is a “prerequisite” for economic well-being.
This approach will deal in particular with the issue of how police can access data. A key initiative will also be the “strengthening of Europol’s mandate”, added the Commissioner, who welcomed the support of the ministers.
The Polish minister, Tomasz Siemoniak, felt that the discussion had shown “a shared vision”. “We want Europe to be safe and we want irregular migration to be curbed”, he said.
The Minister took the opportunity to point out that the Frontex agency has celebrated its twentieth anniversary; the day’s discussion also demonstrated the desire of Member States to strengthen the EU’s external border management agency.
Another session, at lunchtime, was devoted to the EU’s levels of resilience and preparedness for major crises, and took place in the presence of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who is responsible for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)