Commission proposes common border guard
-
ANTONIO VITORINO - justice and home affairs Commissioner denied on Tuesday that enlargement meant more insecurity. He argued that a large part of the pre-accession aid was used in the candidates to improve the borders' management and for the Border Guards (Photo: EU Commission)
The European Commission on Tuesday proposed common management of the EU's external borders, financed jointly by all EU states, to clamp down on terrorism and illegal immigration. The Commission's paper on the integrated management of the EU's external borders also states the long term objective to set up a European Corps of Border Guards. The Italian government will unveil on May 30 a study on the feasibility of setting up a European border control corps, tackling the political and economical aspects of this highly sensitive matter. The Commission's paper is unveiled amid debates sparked by recent success of far-right parties in Europe, who crusade against immigration and prone the closing of borders to ensure internal security.
Enlargement incentive for common border police
Security became a major subject in Europe after the 11 September terrorist attacks and with enlargement to 12 Central and Eastern European candidate countries looming. The Commission's Communication, presented on Tuesday by Commission President Romano Prodi and justice and home affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, shows that enlargement to the present candidate countries is a major incentive for setting up a European Corps of Border Guards, to improve the control at the Union's external borders. "To a great extend, the future member states will be responsible for the internal security of the Union while still undergoing the process of economic and social transition," says the paper. But Commissioner Vitorino denied on Tuesday enlargement meant more insecurity, arguing that a large part of the pre-accession aid was used in the candidates to improve the borders' management and for the Border Guards training.
Prodi: burden sharing important
Join EUobserver today
Become an expert on Europe
Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.
Choose your plan
... or subscribe as a group
Don't miss out on
Our exclusive news stories and investigations. Influential. Investigative. Independent.
Why join?
Watch our founder Lisbeth Kirk explain the reasons in this 30-second video.
Already a member?
Commission president Romano Prodi explained that two essential reasons make the creation of a European Corps of Border Guards necessary: some EU countries are responsible for the internal security of the Union and it is necessary, in the future, that the financial and operational burden be shared by all EU states.
Secondly, some EU member states would feel greater guarantees for their security if they can participate directly to securing the borders. "Therefore, setting up a European Corps of Border Guards must be our long term objective," said Prodi, showing that setting up an integrated management of the EU's external borders was just the first step in the right direction.
European College for Border Guards
Commissioner Vitorino explained the Commission envisaged measures of immediate application (within one year) and measures to be taken within 4 to 5 years. Among steps to be taken within one year he listed legislative measures, organisational steps (setting up a group to co-ordinate national border police action, exchange of information, and will inspect the control capacities of member states). The Commission also envisages the creation of a European College for Border Guards, at medium term. For Commissioner Vitorino, measures aiming at sharing the financial burden should be taken immediately, while those concerning the operational burden should be taken at medium-term.
Commissioner Vitorino believes the Commission's communication and the study the Italian government will release on May 30, are complementary. "They are both part of a global vision and there is no contradiction between the two," the Commissioner said.
