Peter Caddle
Brussels has launched additional measures to strengthen the European Union’s external borders, amid fears of a coming migrant wave from Syria.
The measures included additional promised cash for border control, as well as a commitment to make it easier for states to reject asylum claims.
The EU wished to prevent Belarus or Russia from weaponizing the EU’s pro-migrant position against it by way of so-called “hybrid warfare”, said a December 11 official communication from the commission to member states.
We also put forward measures to reinforce security at our external borders and fight hybrid threats, like the weaponisation of migrants.
Autocrats must never be allowed to use our European values against us ↓
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 11, 2024
“We have taken another decisive step to support our frontline Member States in countering hybrid threats from Russia’s and Belarus’ unacceptable weaponization of migration,” claimed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Especially countries bordering Russia and Belarus, such as Finland with its 1.340-kilometre-long border with Russia, are facing the heavy challenge to guarantee the security of the Union and territorial integrity of Member States,” she said.
“Today we offer these countries further support, including an additional €170 million in funding to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone intrusion,” added von der Leyen.
“Autocrats must never be allowed to use our European values against us,” she said.
The commission would also let member states bend the bloc’s migration rules, in certain limited scenarios, to prevent hostile actors from weaponizing migration flows.
“In view of the serious nature and persistence of the threat to the security of the EU and the territorial integrity of Member States at the EU external borders with Russia and Belarus, Member States may invoke Treaty provisions to exceptionally and under stringent conditions go further than what is provided for by EU secondary legislation under the control of the Court of Justice,” the press release said.
“This could include measures that may entail serious interferences with fundamental rights such as the right to asylum and related guarantees subject to the requirements under the Charter,” the Commission added.
“Today’s Communication outlines the conditions for such measures which have to be proportionate, limited to what is strictly necessary in clearly defined cases, and temporary,” it said.
Estonia’s newly elected government has strengthened the country’s border security amid hybrid warfare threats from Russia. https://t.co/QoHZwwbG12
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 31, 2024
The attempt to tighten Europe’s borders came amid warnings from some experts that the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria could spark another wave of migration into the EU.
Countries hostile to the European Union have previously taken advantage of these migrant waves.
Both Russia and Belarus have been observed shuttling would-be asylum seekers through their borders and into the EU, in apparent attempts to destabilise the bloc.
These actions by the Russian and Belarusian governments led to crises in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. News reports in late 2021 and early 2022 called attention to clashes on Poland’s border with Belarus.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko openly admitted at the time it was “absolutely possible” his country had intentionally pushed Middle Eastern migrants over his country’s border with Poland.
He had no interest in investigating whether his border force had been responsible for those incidents, he added.
“Our guys are helping the migrants get into Polish territory? It’s perfectly possible, I think that’s absolutely possible. Maybe someone helped them. I won’t even look into this,” Lukashenko told the BBC.
“We’re Slavs. We have hearts. Our troops know the migrants are going to Germany,” said the president.
“I told the EU I’m not going to detain migrants on the border, hold them at the border, and if they keep coming from now on I still won’t stop them, because they’re not coming to my country, they’re going to yours,” he added.
ð️Don´t miss the full interview with @RibalAlAssad first cousin to deposed Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad ðð½ https://t.co/EZ3ZrDbzmG#syria #politicslive #politicstoday pic.twitter.com/33nM5p34Iu
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 11, 2024