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underline that I will continue to support Member
States in their de-radicalisation and inclusion
efforts. Terrorism will not hold us back.”
On Schengen
Better implementation is also needed in regard to
the Schengen Information System between
national borders guards, the Interpol databases
on Stolen and Lost Travel Documents, and the
Prüm framework for police officers to exchange
forensic data. Mr. Avramopoulos is supportive of
the Schengen Agreement, highlighting its role in
the safeguarding and surveillance of European
borders. “Schengen is not the problem. But let me
also say that we cannot have a secure area of
internal free movement without better control of
our external borders. That’s why we proposed
systematic checks for all those who enter but also
why we proposed the European Border and
Coast Guard. The current temporary border con-
trols that have been introduced cannot remain
forever – that is why the two proposals by the
Commission need to be adopted urgently. Finally,
we cannot lose sight of addressing and eradicat-
ing the roots of terrorism and radicalisation – both
here at home but also outside.”
The Commissioner calls EU countries to honour
their commitments, since, as he claims, only 497
immigrants have been relocated: “We will all be
judged by history; therefore we must all under-
stand that solidarity and responsibility are not
simply moral values, but commitments. We are
bound by international law and the Geneva
Convention to do our human and moral duty, and
this is what we do. Europe is not facing the threat
of an invasion — we have to deal with people,
