At the special EU summit, the Netherlands and Austria want to jointly demand solutions in the fight against illegal migration. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday during a visit to Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) that he saw “a consensus was forming” in the EU. Nehammer reiterated the call for EU financial support for Bulgaria and Greece for the protection of the EU’s external borders.
However, multiple EU summits will be needed to resolve these issues, Rutte said. When the refugee deal between the EU and Turkey was concluded in 2016, it was easier, according to the Dutch prime minister. Now the EU has a plethora of problems, including Schengen, Frontex, the Dublin system and returns. “We have to comply with the rules of Dublin again”, Rutte demanded, otherwise “Schengen will not survive.”
“Figures must be manageable”
“If we want to keep the EU as a safe haven for refugees, we also have to make sure that the numbers are manageable,” said Rutte. It is clear that more measures are needed to protect the external border. However, Rutte argued that the European Commission should not be told what to fund.
Nehammer said that Austria, like the Netherlands, has the same problems with returning Dublin cases. Nehammer accused the EU commission, which does not want to fund fences, of taking an “ideological approach” to the issue. The specifications for EU external border surveillance also contain structural measures. It is “not correct for Bulgaria to be left alone with the costs”. In fact, the Bulgarian border guards also guard the borders of Austria and the Netherlands. “This is not an ideological but a pragmatic question,” said Nehammer. You have to be flexible and creative. It is also important to finance technical equipment, personnel and drones. It is crucial that countries such as Bulgaria and Romania receive support. “A fence that is not guarded is not a barrier.”
Concerns about Schengen expansion
Nehammer described it as important that the special EU summit takes place at all. “It’s been delayed for far too long.” The Chancellor and Rutte emphasized the close relationship between Austria and the Netherlands. “We are united in our concerns about Schengen expansion at this time,” Nehammer said.
Austria blocked Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to Schengen in December because of illegal migration. The Netherlands had also expressed concerns about Bulgaria. During a visit to the Bulgarian-Turkish border on Monday, Nehammer called for EU funds of €2 billion to expand the Bulgarian border fence. Under the Dublin system, the country of first reception would be responsible for asylum procedures, but in practice the system has worked poorly in the EU.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
