EPP group leader: Protecting EU borders priority
Budapest, October 10 (MTI) – Each member state of the European Union must somehow contribute to handling the burden represented by migrants but protecting the external borders is a priority task, Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, said in an interview published by daily Magyar HÃrlap on Monday.
Weber, a member of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, called for resolute action against illegal migrants who abuse the refugee services system.
He said the European Commission has proposed a number of legal rules in order to strengthen the sphere of authority of Frontex, the EU’s border protection agency. Weber also noted member states’ sovereignty, which he called an issue that Hungary also fights for. Weber criticised Greece for not allowing the EU to implement the required measures along its borders, which restricts the union’s scope of manoeuvring.
Yet, if Greece is unable to protect its external borders, then Frontex should do it, he said.
Effective border protection is a precondition for all further consultations on refugee issues, he added.
Source: MTI/Magyar HÃrlap