Jordan Bardela: How he equated Schengen with the mafia and traffickers –

Response – Brussels

A… European “Patriot”, in name only based on the political group (Patriots for Europe) he belongs to in European Parliamento Jordan Bardellaequated the open borders and free movement offered by Schengen to the mafia and traffickers.

“The world without borders is that of the mafia, traffickers, Islamist attacks, traffickers, unfair competition and all kinds of violence. This world is not desirable” he explained speaking to the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg the wing of the extreme right Marine Le Pen.

Hungary points the finger at Germany

At the same time, Hungary stood up for Schengen, pointing the finger at Germany for the internal controls it imposes, but at the same time asking for double standards for itself, and in particular “to be excluded from the EU acquis on asylum and immigration in case amending the Treaty in the future and will initiate the appropriate procedures for this purpose” with a letter from the Minister of European Affairs Janos Boka to the Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson. The Netherlands had requested the same.

Orban insists on the zero number of illegal immigrants

It was preceded by Viktor Orbán, who, hand in hand with the Italian Matteo Salvini and the Dutch Geert Wilders, sent clear messages by participating in a League event with the Hungarian prime minister stressing that his country is one of the safest countries in Europe, defending the his administration’s tough law and order policies and particularly its approach to illegal immigration. “The number of illegal immigrants in Hungary is zero,” Viktor Orban said.

Hungary complains about the fragmentation of Schengen

With the aim of “effectively curbing illegal immigration”, as it claims in the letter, Budapest is asking for “stronger national control” in this area. It also blames countries that have imposed extra internal border controls, saying the Schengen zone “has become fragmented due to prolonged and extensive internal border controls introduced due to illegal immigration and security threats”.

Extensive internal controls from Germany

At the beginning of September, Berlin announced extensive internal border controls, casting doubt on the Schengen zone and free movement without implying that there was any irregularity in the decision taken. Germany has gone a step further to protect itself from the threat of Islamic extremist terrorism and serious cross-border crime, the interior minister has pointed out. Nancy Fraser: “We are doing everything in our power to protect the people of our country from these threats. This includes the broadest measures we are taking,” he said.

The risk of undermining Schengen

For her part, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson reiterated in the plenary session of the European Parliament that although member states have the right to impose temporary border controls under strict conditions, “it is clear that they risk undermining the benefits of free movement”.

The matter is expected to be on the table of the competent ministers meeting on October 10 and then at the Summit on October 17 and 18. According to information, Belgium and Germany request that the conclusions contain references to the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the internal dimension of migration, a point to which the Netherlands also agrees.