Debate: The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus based on article  TFEU
Date: WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Anže Logar
Language: EN

The three Member States under immediate pressure – Lithuania, Latvia and Poland – need to know they can count on the support of the entire European Union, and that is the message we want to send, a message of solidarity and support. Recent action by the Belarus regime aimed to undermine the entire EU, and our response must continue to be as swift, effective and united as it has been so far.  These Member States are managing the EU’s external border on behalf of all of us. We must acknowledge their tremendous efforts in dealing with this extremely difficult situation. The support provided to them encompasses operational and financial help to strengthen border management, as well as to cover urgent humanitarian needs. At the same time, major diplomatic outreach towards third countries and other stakeholders such as air carriers, has been undertaken. They have been warned against becoming partners in Lukashenko’s sinister strategy, unwittingly or not.  In addition, direct pressure is being exerted on Belarus itself. Since October 2020, the EU has gradually expanded its restrictive measures in the light of the situation in Belarus. The Council will further amend its sanctions regime as appropriate and will respond strongly to this hybrid attack. We must be able to target individuals and entities organising or contributing to activities by Lukashenko’s regime that facilitate the illegal crossing of the EU’s external border.  In addition, further work is needed in order to disrupt and dismantle human—smuggling networks, as well as to foster information campaigns in third countries to fight disinformation, including through increased engagement with social media platforms. We acknowledge the work done by the Commission in drafting a proposal for a Council decision on provisional emergency measures for Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.  The proposal follows the invitation by the European Council in October 2021 for the Commission to propose any necessary changes to the EU’s legal framework and concrete measures to ensure an immediate and appropriate response in line with EU law and international obligations, including respect for fundamental rights.  These provisional measures, based on Article 78(3) of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, should be designated to give these Member States immediate support and relief, as well as some flexibility and leeway, and help them to address the emergency situation. In its intervention, the Commission will provide more information about the proposed measures and their objective. These measures need to be adapted to the realities these Member States are facing and correspond to their actual needs. In the Council, Member States now need to study the proposal, which was presented last week at expert level, including its interplay with existing and possible future EU legal rules. The European Parliament will be consulted.  Honourable Members, it is important to bear in mind that this proposal is not – and cannot be – an isolated tool which will magically solve the crisis. It is only a part of a wider toolbox of measures necessary to counter this type of threat and make the EU more resilient. In this respect, the proposal must be regarded in a much wider context, together with the revised proposal of the Schengen Borders Code, in order to find a more permanent solution. It is important to stress that joint work on the reform of the common European asylum system also needs to continue in parallel because only a reformed system will help us to be better prepared for future attempts at destabilising the European Union.  The new system needs to be efficient and just, offering protection to persons who deserve it, but also protecting the external border and national systems in times of crisis. Apart from the measures proposed by the Commission to address an emergency situation, we obviously need to work with Parliament to establish a more resilient system to better equip us against future crises. Only by working on this problem as a whole can we show our true strength and solidarity, abiding by the core values of the EU, both on borders and on migration management, and fully respecting human rights. We all need to come together in opposition to those who manipulate people and take advantage of their suffering. Thank you very much for your attention.