Speeches

Dear Chair, I thank the Rapporteur for her excellent report – this is a summary of the implementation of free movement in the Schengen area with recommendations on what needs to be improved. In recent years, the failure of Schengen has become one of the first consequences of current European political difficulties, starting from the migrant crisis to the pandemic crisis. We have also witnessed the erection of barbed wires between the members. Despite the provisions of Article 3 of the Lisbon Agreement, some Member States are trying to nationalise freedom of movement by using this issue for day-to-day political purposes. The Commission should consistently initiate infringement procedures in such situations. In case of ambiguity over border control, political campaigns should step down before independent oversight mechanisms. Speaking about the future of Schengen, we need to preserve and strengthen it as one of Europe's greatest common achievements, and new enlargement is one of the best ways. The Commission has confirmed that Croatia fulfils the conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis. It welcomed the establishment of an independent border control mechanism. I hope that the Council will take these facts into account as soon as possible and approve our accession.

Mr President, with great concern and sadness, we follow the ongoing tragic events in Tigray and elsewhere in Ethiopia. The situation in Tigray has seriously escalated, but the crimes against human rights are happening in other regions and towards different ethnicities. Our first and foremost priority is to help civilians who have no access to medical assistance, are dying of famine and are often victims of sexual violence. Furthermore, the exclusion of Tigray from general elections and communication disruptions makes this horrible situation even worse. We need to do everything to support a ceasefire that all would respect. That way, they can ensure that the humanitarian aid is delivered on the ground to the ones in need urgently. We also need concrete EU measures, including an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against all perpetrators. Tigray is without doubt one of the urgent, if not the most pressing, humanitarian situations we should work on to the full extent of our capabilities and powers.