“Immigration is a hybrid weapon”
Macron presents his Schengen reform
2/2/2022, 9:19 p.m
French President Macron calls for changes to EU border policy. A Schengen Council is to coordinate the protection of the external borders, and a rapid reaction force is to complement the Frontex border protection agency. Immigration is a key issue in the French election campaign.
French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken out in favor of rapid reform of the Schengen area. “We want a Schengen area with political leadership,” said Macron in Tourcoing. A separate Schengen Council, which brings together the responsible ministers, could meet as early as March 3rd. The aim is to better coordinate the protection of the external borders.
Macron spoke before a meeting of EU interior ministers who want to deal with border protection and the stalled asylum reform after the 2015 refugee crisis in Lille tomorrow, Thursday.
Intervention force to support Frontex
The reform is necessary because circumstances have changed, Macron said. “Immigration has become a hybrid weapon that can destabilize us,” he said, referring to the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. Therefore, the external borders must be protected more efficiently. Macron reiterated the need for a rapid reaction force in the event of a crisis. This should not replace the existing border protection agency Frontex, but complement it. “In this way we can better coordinate the aid of the member states,” said Macron.
The EU Commission had already presented a draft for a reform of the Schengen area in December. Macron hopes that this reform will be passed during the French EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2022. The fight against illegal immigration is also an important issue in the French presidential election campaign. According to polls, it’s going to be a runoff between Macron and right-wing populist Marine Le Pen.