BRUSSELS Despite the raging war in Ukraine, the situation on the EU’s eastern border is under control, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Immigration Ylva Johansson emphasizes in an interview with .
However, the conditions at the borders can change in a short time.
– I do not trust [Venäjän presidenttiin Vladimir] To Putin and [Valko-Venäjän presidenttiin Aljaksandr] Even Lukashenka not even a moment. We have to be prepared for the fact that they are ready to use any means.
According to Johansson, behind the attacks on Ukraine’s electricity production and water distribution is Russia’s desire to create a flood of refugees heading to the EU.
He emphasizes that the EU countries must therefore be ready to receive more refugees from Ukraine.
According to him, the last months have shown that the member states are able to take care of millions of Ukrainians who have fled the war.
The need to protect the external borders is emphasized
The Russian attack has also highlighted the need to strengthen the EU’s external borders. Poland recently announced that it will build a fence on its border with Kaliningrad, which belongs to Russia.
Finland has also decided to build a 200-kilometer long barrier along the eastern border. According to Johansson, additional investments will be needed.
– It is the duty of the member states to secure the external borders of the EU. The Commission supports them in this.
Johansson, who visited Finland at the beginning of September, praises the cooperation with the Finnish authorities. According to him, the Finnish Border Guard is one of the best in Europe.
According to the commissioner, the member states themselves have the best conditions to take a stand on border security and new investments.
– It is up to the member countries to assess what is best from their point of view.
The number of tourist visas has collapsed
In Finland, along with border security, there has been a lively discussion about tourist visas granted to Russians.
Tourism-based tourism from Russia has been limited in Finland since the end of September.
Finland has also hoped that the tourist visas granted to Russians would be included in the sanctions against Russia.
However, there has not been enough support for a complete ban at the EU level.
The Commission has ruled that the number of visas granted to Russians should be limited. According to Johansson, the commission’s recommendations have had an impact.
– The number of issued tourist visas has collapsed in all member countries. Accordingly, the number of canceled visas has increased dramatically. It is evident that the Member States have taken our recommendations seriously.
The immigration rules are being reformed
The increase in the number of migrants in the Mediterranean region has also kept the commission busy.
The dispute between France and Italy over the fate of a migrant rescue ship is a palpable example of the lack of common vision on immigration issues.
According to Johansson, the goal is for the overall reform regulating burden sharing between member countries to be completed before the spring of 2024.
– I am cautiously optimistic, the process is progressing relatively well.
Johansson emphasizes that the majority of immigrants arriving in the EU have a legitimate reason for doing so. Illegal immigration is also often driven by the desire to find employment in Europe.
According to Johansson, no one moving for work should risk their life to get to the EU. That’s why it would be important to open new legal routes for those moving for work.
Immigration will be discussed today, Thursday, when the interior ministers of the EU countries meet in Brussels.
Protecting children online
The ministers will also discuss the prevention of sexual abuse of children online. The background is Johansson’s proposed law in May, which would intervene in the misuse of online services.
According to Johansson, decisions are in a hurry. The regulation must be agreed upon by 2024, so that technology companies would also have opportunities to intervene in abuses in the future.
According to him, the EU must have effective means to protect children online as well. According to him, technology companies have a big responsibility in relation to reporting abuses and removing illegal material.
– The problem is huge, bigger than most of us understand.
The EU sails from crisis to crisis
The tenure of the sitting Commission has been defined by a series of crises that have befallen the EU.
After Britain left the EU, Europe has been shaken by both the corona pandemic and the Russian war of aggression and the resulting energy shortage.
EU countries have responded to Russia’s war of aggression with unprecedented sanctions. Nine sanctions packages are currently being prepared.
– From the beginning of the war, we have seen a huge desire to harmonize the positions of the member countries. The threat from Russia is so big that we have to succeed in it, says Johansson.
Is there a return to the EU, or have the crises changed the EU permanently?
– I believe that we are going through a process of change. The Commission will be offered a more active operational role that it has not had before.
– In addition, the EU’s geopolitical role is changing as we prepare to receive new member states from the east, Johansson continues, referring to the membership applications of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.