Debate contributions by Fabienne KELLER

Madam President, Commissioner, 'Migration is a European challenge requiring a European response'. These words are inscribed in the conclusions of the meeting of Heads of State on 17 October. This is our compass for effectively managing migration, which led to the adoption of a landmark agreement last spring: the European Pact on Asylum and Migration. The Pact offers new and powerful tools to combat irregular flows and to discourage the departure of non-asylum-seekers through the asylum border procedure, to speed up the examination of asylum applications and to swiftly protect those who are persecuted, but also to ensure, through the Pact and these tools, a fair sharing of responsibility and the necessary solidarity between Member States. This pact is a real revolution, ladies and gentlemen, and the priority is to ensure its proper implementation. I strongly oppose so-called innovative solutions for outsourcing return policy to third countries. hubs away from home. Of course, we need to work on a new directive on returns. However, such centres would be inefficient, cost taxpayers a fortune and make us vulnerable to blackmail from third countries, without addressing the delicate issue of obtaining laissez-passer. One after another, attempts by governments to create such systems turn out to be dead ends. One example is the abandonment of the UK’s agreement with Rwanda. Let us remain sovereign and masters of our immigration policy.

Madam President, we know that the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and migration policy dominated the European Council at the end of last week. This is a matter of concern for our citizens. We are proud, all here in this House, to have adopted a pact, to have found a balance in dealing with the issue of illegal migration, while respecting our values. We also know, ladies and gentlemen, that it will take us another two years to implement it. We cannot therefore accept that a Member State uses a back door to circumvent what is provided for in the Pact and the precise rules that we have defined together. That is why we propose to rebound on the Greens' proposal and to add the "implementation of the Pact" dimension as a whole, i.e. with regard to its duties, the application of its rules, but also the guarantees of human rights and respect for fundamental rights that we have incorporated into it. It is in this spirit that we propose this amended debate.

Mr President, dear Nicolae Ştefănuță, Madam Vice-President, dear Věra Jourová, in five years, the European Commission's annual Rule of Law Report has become a valuable tool in responding to the erosion of the fundamental principles on which our Union is based. Our group has long called for arming Europe against autocrats who dismantle the rights and freedoms of European citizens. Madam Vice-President, I would like to commend you and Commissioner Didier Reynders for putting together this annual report. This is a big step forward. This morning in plenary, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán brushed aside all criticism. Yet the facts documented in this report are indisputable. The entire Hungarian judicial system is controlled by political power and corruption scandals are ubiquitous in the Orbán system. Together with my colleagues from the Renew Group, we want this report to be, tomorrow more than ever, at the centre of a strengthened system of conditionality, so that the disbursement of all European funds is subject to compliance with the fundamental rules and values of the European Union.

Mr President, dear Margaritis Schinas, the security of European citizens depends, among other things, on effective control and management of the European Union's external borders. This is an essential condition for the Schengen area of free movement. I agree with President Ursula von der Leyen and yours, Vice-President Margaritis Schinas: the Union is facing new challenges and multiple threats that call for a rethinking of our external border management strategy as Europeans. Together with my Renew Europe group, we support the strengthening of Frontex. We want to step up the presence of European border and coast guards on the ground, provided, however, that we thoroughly review the governance of this agency, so that it operates more effectively, while respecting fundamental rights. A positive shift is taking place with a new Managing Director. It is a demanding task to be pursued relentlessly. Secondly, it is our collective responsibility to provide the Agency with the financial and human resources it needs to carry out its border protection mission. With my group, I am resolutely committed to it.

Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, on 5 July last, when Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Moscow, he did not go on a so-called peace mission. He rolled out the red carpet to Putin and opened wide the doors of the European Union to an enemy country. This national card allows an unlimited number of Russian nationals to enter Hungary. This is in total contradiction, Minister, with the policy of the European Union since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Since 2022, we have frozen the facilitation of Russian visas, tightened visa conditions for Russian nationals and tightened border controls. This is not just a lonely decision by an isolated dictator. This is a major internal security issue for all European citizens. Your colleague, Commissioner Ylva Johansson, has carried out several actions since the summer to obtain clarifications and guarantees from the Hungarian government, without a credible response at this stage, however. I therefore call on the Commission and the Member States to consider the temporary suspension of Hungary's Schengen membership, as provided for in Article 29 of the Schengen Code. Let us act forcefully against this threat to our common security.