Spain’s MIA: Undermining the Essence of Schengen Will Not Strengthen Security of Member States

The Minister’s comments  to his European counterparts came during the Home Affairs Council meeting, held in Luxembourg, during which it was discussed about the definition of the Pact on Migration and Asylum with the approval of the “Political Declaration on Solidarity”, among others,AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

According to Grande-Marlaska, the wording of the text does not achieve a fair balance between the free movement of people as well as security.

“Freedom of movement and the absence of internal border controls is absolutely compatible with security. However, in the current state of the proposal, internal border controls will not be exceptional, but will become an option just as valid,” he pointed out in this regard.

As for negotiations for a future migration as well as asylum pact, the Minister positively assessed the “Political Declaration on Solidarity”, considering it as a first step to consolidate the principle that maritime immigration is a shared responsibility of the European Union.

Such a proposal coincides with the position defended by the MED5, which is a group that consists of the following countries: Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Italy.

Regarding the debate around the European Border and Coast agency, Frontex, Minister Grande-Marlaska, called for the promotion of the agency’s preventive resources for cooperation with third countries and transit of migratory flows as soon as possible.

“We look forward to the negotiation and signing of agreements with the countries of West Africa, which will result in better cooperation, not only in the area of ??borders but also in that of readmissions,” he stressed.

Previously, the Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to reforming the Schengen borders code as part of the work carried out by the French presidency to strengthen and reform the Schengen zone in terms of new challenges.

Besides, the Council revealed that this reform provides new tools in order to combat the instrumentalization of migrant flow and established a new framework related to external border measures in case of a health crisis.

In this regard, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) previously said that the Schengen zone should be further strengthened through better police and juridical cooperation. The comments of the Committee came due to the threat of the war “at its doorstep.”