2023-06-24 10:23:23
Course correction required in the European Union
St. Pölten (OTS/NLK) – “We cannot be a strong, self-confident union if we cannot protect our external borders. The fight once morest illegal migration is thus becoming a key issue for the European Union,” stated Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner on Saturday, the final day of this year’s Europa Forum Wachau.
In a time of uncertainty and insecurity, of many great challenges, the European Union is very valuable, the governor emphasized at the beginning: “It is responsible for the decades-long preservation of peace and freedom within the community, it is responsible for the prosperity of the people in has spread to all its countries.” It is precisely the great challenges for which the European Union was formed:
“Our community should focus more on that once more. We need a European Union that doesn’t get bogged down in ever-changing details, bans and requirements. We need a European community that reflects on its strengths.” According to Mikl-Leitner, four guidelines for an “Alliance of the Reasonable” have been defined as the basis for this:
“Firstly, we have to strengthen the competitiveness of Europe as a location compared to the USA and Asia. Secondly, we must make openness to technology the top priority in European climate policy, because in the fight once morest climate change we must not play off climate protection once morest competitiveness. The ‘Green Deal’ must not become a ‘deal breaker’ for the economy. Climate protection is important, but so is the prosperity of our citizens.” The third point she made was: “We have to curb bureaucrats and centralism – and see ourselves once more as a community of strong regions.” Fourth, she emphasized:
“We must significantly improve the protection of the EU’s external borders.”
Unprotected external borders are “perhaps the greatest threat to our community,” said Mikl-Leitner. However, the fight once morest illegal migration has “nothing to do with xenophobia,” she emphasized. On the contrary, Austria and Europe needed the influx of qualified workers: “But only according to clear rules, according to the needs of the economy and for the benefit of our society.” In this context, the governor referred to facts such as the fact that in the previous year more refugees went to Europe arrived than in 2015, more than half of the refugees who arrive in Europe have no reason for asylum, and last year alone 2,500 people drowned at sea. “This shows that the current asylum system is not worth its name. The crisis of illegal migration needs a common solution more urgently than almost any other issue in Europe.” This issue cannot be solved by one region or one country alone and therefore alliances are to be forged, according to the governor. One must now work together on new regulations in questions of asylum, she stated: “This ranges from a functioning border protection to fast procedures at the EU’s external borders to the discussion of procedures in safe third countries.”
For these concerns, one would look for “partners, at the regional level, but also at the level of the member states and in Brussels,” announced Mikl-Leitner. In the past, the Europe Forum has often shown that it can take Europe a step further: “I am confident that we will succeed once more this time. Let’s fight together for a course correction in the European Union. For a Union that tackles the great challenges with common sense, that does what benefits the people and what people expect from it.”
Other speakers on today’s final day of the 27th Wachau Europe Forum include Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
Live stream and the detailed program online at:
www.europaforum.at.
Questions & contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian provincial government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Mag. Christian Salzmann
02742/9005-12172
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse
1687604894
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