Cambridge, MA, 20 February 2016
Ladies
and gentlemen,
It
is an honour to be with you here today, to speak at this historic institution
of learning and excellence.
The
Harvard-Fletcher #European_Conference is testament to the bonds between our two
continents. These bonds go deep in our culture and history, and extend far
ahead into our future.
The
transatlantic relationship has never been stronger. Ambassador O'Sullivan
outlined some of the global issues of the day that bind us together. As the
Ambassador of the European Union in the US, he is indeed the best placed person
to appreciate the depth of our relationship.
As
European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, I would like
to focus my speech on a challenge of truly global dimensions. That is of course
the migration and refugee crisis that we are dealing with today.
Today,
Europe is facing the biggest refugee challenge since the end of the Second
World War.
2015
has been the year of many records. More than one million people arrived at the
Greek and Italian shores. More than 1.2 million people applied for asylum in
the EU. 3,771 lives were lost at sea.
These
are tragic and unnecessary deaths, and they can be avoided.
Given
the explosive instability in the region these people are coming from, we know
the migratory flows are set to continue.
As
we head into spring, we know that the numbers will spike again. We know that
this is a situation which evolves rapidly.
And
we know that the sooner we deal with the challenges on the basis of the twin
principles of responsibility and solidarity, the better results we will have.
We
have been telling EU countries: As long as everyone is waiting for the others
to move first – and as long as some continue to act as if the problem will
disappear if they just ignore it – then things will only get worse.
A
consistent and coordinated European and global approach, put into practice
urgently, is the only way ahead.
At
the beginning of 2015 the focus was very much on the Central Mediterranean and
the need for actions to save lives.
Then,
from August onwards, the focus shifted to the Eastern Mediterranean, and in
particular the situation affecting Turkey, Greece, and the Western Balkans.
The
escalation of the migratory flows resulted in the reintroduction of internal
border controls in several Member States. The situation ended up testing the
very foundations of the European Union. The principle of free movement –one of
the EU’s major achievements — is under huge pressure.
It
is true that the refugee flows took us somewhat by surprise. When our policies
were designed, things were different in the area of migration. The flows were
of a different nature and scale.
Since
this European Commission took office in late 2014, we have been constantly
trying, adapting and anticipating.
We
took action and proposed concrete responses. In May, we presented the
comprehensive European Agenda on Migration to address structural problems.
We
put in place an emergency relocation scheme of 160,000 applicants from Italy
and Greece to relieve pressure on these two countries. This is a redistribution
system for asylum seekers based on solidarity between all EU countries.
Right
now, processing and registration centres at the arrival points of the refugees
in Italy and Greece are being established to ensure that every refugee who
approaches European borders is immediately registered, fingerprinted and
identified. This was how we gave EU frontline countries substantial and
coordinated support.
The
relocation system is based on the properly functioning hotspots.
We
didn’t stop here. We presented two concrete Action Plans against smugglers and
another one on the Return of irregular migrants to their home countries. Both
are essential components of our response.
But
our humanitarian efforts and the better management of our borders are two sides
of the same coin.
In
December, we proposed the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard, which
would have enough resources to step in and prevent crises from developing at
our borders.
We
want it to take immediate operational measures when problems arise at our
external borders. And we want it to support Member States to return irregular
migrants to their home countries.
Along
with the measures to reinforce our borders, we had to also face a mounting
threat from terrorism. 2015 was a year of several bloody attacks on European
soil – all at the same time as the mounting migration crisis.
Our
response again was comprehensive. We put our European Agenda on Security on the
table in April 2015 and set out all the measures needed to make a difference
for our citizens' security.
Progress
was made on several fronts.
We
agreed on EU rules to exchange passenger name records between law enforcement
authorities.
We
proposed the criminalisation of terrorist offences across the Union.
We
introduced tighter rules to control firearms.
We
took a whole range of actions with civil society to fight radicalisation.
We
launched a partnership with the internet industry to fight terrorist content
online.
And
we will continue on this path to ensure the safety of our citizens.
2016
will be the year that we focus on terrorist financing, with a range of measures
to deprive terrorists of their financial resources.
Our
efforts will continue and intensify. Especially because on the migration front,
what has been agreed is not yet delivering the expected results. Far more is
needed, at the European and the international level.
We
have repeatedly called for all EU countries to play their part and show more
solidarity, more responsibility. And to act on it.
If
we do not deliver, we risk fueling anti-immigrant sentiments across Europe.
Xenophobia is showing its ugly face again. Populism is rising.
We
are seeing shadows from our recent past, which we never thought we would see again.
Our
work therefore must continue. I will outline 5 key areas where we will focus
our energy:
First,
on our external border control system and our asylum policy. Without a
functioning Common European Asylum System, free movement within the Union will continue
to be at risk. The two go hand in hand.
Second,
the responsibility over asylum applicants and new arrivals, the so-called
"Dublin system", needs to change. The events of last year showed that
the current system does not work.
This
is because it makes the first EU Member State where irregular migrants enter
responsible – and Greece and Italy suffer from a geographical bias. This makes
the burden on these frontline States unsustainable. New rules are needed to
ensure more solidarity between Member States.
A
new mechanism to share asylum seekers between EU Member States will only work
if we make progress on bringing national asylum systems to converge: we still
have important differences between EU countries when it comes to asylum. This
leads people to shop for asylum between EU countries – things therefore need to
change here as well.
Third,
while we do want to strengthen external borders and security, we do not want to
create "Fortress Europe". We do want to reduce irregular entry of
migrants, but we also want to ensure legal and safe pathways towards the EU.
This is the best way to ensure that people do not undertake perilous journeys
to reach our shores. Humanitarian admission and resettlement schemes must be
beefed up and helped with a more permanent framework to resettle people in
need. And this is not only a European task, but a global one – where countries
like the United States and Canada have a crucial role to play too.
Fourth,
keeping in mind demographics and our ageing population, we want to make the EU
more attractive for foreign talent. We want to make it easier and more
attractive for highly skilled migrants to come work and settle in the EU. But
we also want to make our continent more attractive for students, researchers
and seasonal workers.
The
fifth priority area is integration – one which is often forgotten, but which is
increasingly important. And I'm sure you'll share this idea with me, as I am
speaking here in the country known as the melting pot of cultures, where
everyone is American, but many also have other identities and origins.
With
over a million people arrived in Europe, we will need to make concerted efforts
not just now but also in the long-term to ensure that all these individuals
becoming fully participating and contributing parts of our society. And we also
need to learn from the past, and not lose out of sight all those migrants who
are already in Europe.
These
reflections take into account the geopolitical tensions, the conflict, the
wars, the demographic change, climate change and increasing inequality – all
forcing more people than ever before to leave their homes and seek a better
life elsewhere.
These
are global issues, and we need to face them together, in partnership.
That
is exactly what we are beginning to do now with NATO helping on the border
between Turkey and Greece. In the strongest possible expression of solidarity
from the Transatlantic Alliance, NATO will step in to provide support in
dealing with the refugee and migrant crisis.
This
will be a mission essentially serving to fulfil the EU’s policy on the flows of
migrants. It is a mission to help Greece and Turkey to address the challenges
they are facing.
Both
the EU and NATO will operate within the same policy framework and underpinned
by international and European laws.
We
need more such global partnerships.
Today,
the ongoing conflict in Syria is the main reason for refugees seeking
protection in Europe. But this should be seen in the context of the huge pressures
on Syria’s neighbouring countries. We are working with all the countries in
this region, doing everything we can to assist them.
I
call on our US partners to do the same, and share more of the burden.
Take
the example of Turkey. We set up a special Refugee Facility to help Turkey deal
with the 2.5 million refugees on its territory. We devoted massive financial
resources, directly for refugee health and education.
We
allocated €4 billion for humanitarian assistance to countries like Jordan, Iraq
and Lebanon.
We
pledged more than €3 billion at the Syrian Donors Conference, sending a strong
signal of commitment.
We
set up a €3 billion Trust Fund for Africa to address migration in all its
dimensions, including poverty, bad governance, and conflict.
But while financial contributions are
important, it is not the only answer. Solidarity and responsibility for global
problems should guide our actions.
The conflict in Syria is not the only
reason for people looking for protection in other countries. Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Iraq, Nigeria are all countries from which
people leave and seek protection or a better life in the EU or in other
countries.
There are three key issues we must
address globally:
First, responsibility: how to promote
better sharing of this challenge globally? We need to rethink how people in
need can access protection.
Second, protection: how to protect
vulnerable migrants falling outside the 'refugee' definition?
And third, governance: what kind of
systems and institutions do we need to ensure protection for those in need? But
also: how can we contribute to safer and more thriving living environments so
people don't have to leave in the first place?
Ladies and gentlemen,
2016 will be a hugely important year
for Europe as far as migration is concerned.
It will be a decisive year and a year
in which our leadership, our solidarity and our courage will be tested more
than ever.
It will be about protecting the
growing numbers of people fleeing from war and conflict, while ensuring
internal security. It will be about Europe, our Union and the values it was
built upon.
But 2016 will also be the year in
which questions are asked of the international community, and its readiness to
face up to its responsibilities. 2016 could therefore be a global turning point
— for better or for worse.
Thank you.
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