Time To Restore Trust In Schengen
Strasbourg -- 7 June 2011
In the European Parliament's Plenary Chamber in Strasbourg, Timothy today made the following speech about the need to restore trust in the "Schengen" border system. Following recent events in North Africa, Timothy feels it is time to re-evaluate the system and update the criteria for it. Even though the UK is not a full member of Schengen, it does have an impact on our security and immigration policy.
Commissioner,
European citizens are losing confidence and trust in European Programmes. It is important that we do not push further forward another European Project at a speed and rate it is not prepared for or wanted. This is a feeling felt by Member States, not only with regard to the Schengen area, but with the Eurozone, and in some cases the Union itself.
We must not rush forward with the further expansion of the Schengen Area, before all involved are sufficiently ready and prepared.
I must stress that this debate and this area of discussion must not be used as an excuse to criticise either Bulgaria or Romania, who have worked hard to meet the technical criteria that the Commission has set, instead, this is an opportunity to talk about renewing faith in the Schengen system and in the European Union, and an opportunity to improve an outdated Evaluation Mechanism. We are currently dealing with a system which is now not able to deal with current challenges Europe faces or the political will of its Member States. Now is the time to set a criteria which not only deals with the technical aspects of the Schengen system, but a criteria which includes assessing the impact of organized crime and corruption which includes periodical assessment of existing Schengen Member States. I would like to see Europol and Eurojust involved in these assessments.
Perhaps such a new evaluation mechanism would help prevent some of the differences in opinion and lack of confidence in the system, which we are hearing not only in this chamber, but across Europe.
