site.btaFranco Frattini: If Schengen Ceases to Exist, Terrorists Will Have Won a Victory

Franco Frattini: If Schengen Ceases to Exist, Terrorists Will Have Won a Victory

Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - The President of the Italian Society for International Organization, Franco Frattini, said in Sofia Wednesday that if the Schengen border-free area ceases to exist, terrorists will have won a victory over the people of Europe, because they will have limited their freedom.

Frattini, who is also former vice president of the European Commission and former Italian foreign minister, gave a talk in the Bulgarian capital, focusing on the refugee crisis and its impact on Europe. The event was hosted by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria (ACB).

The guest discussed the human dimension of the refugee crisis and the distinction between refugees and economic migrants. He highlighted the need for rigorous measures against entrepreneurs who exploit refugees illegally. He also spoke about what he sees as Europe's weakness in dealing with the Syrian conflict.

The question of Schengen was also discussed by Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva, who said: "It is unfair and stupid to keep Bulgaria and Romania out of Schengen. As we can see, the fact that our two countries are outside Schengen has not diminished the problems associated with the protection of the borders; on the contrary, it has exacerbated these problems."

Kuneva noted that Bulgaria and Romania have centred their respective security systems around the assumption that they will join the Schengen area, unlike other countries, such as the United Kingdom, which have made it clear they want to stay out of Schengen and have built their security systems on different foundations. "We have no access to all information systems, but nowadays our security is based on the flow of information which we can exchange," she said.

Discussing the balance between security and freedom, Kuneva argued that the November 13 events in Paris clearly placed the focus on security. She noted, however, that refugees should not be lumped with terrorists. "It is true that we need to put an end to uncontrolled entry, but we should not wall ourselves inside our national space," she said.

For his part, Frattini said that cooperation in the Schengen area involves exchange of information necessary for the suppression of terrorism. He, too, finds it important that Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area.

Taking a journalist's question about Sofia's position on the migrant resettlement quotas in the EU, Kuneva said this is the only scheme proposed so far to address the issue.

Frattini said a land operation in Syria involving the EU is unlikely, but the bloc may continue to support forces which are already on the ground in Syria.

ACB President Solomon Passy said NATO needs reforming, particularly in the field of intelligence. "We do not have a joint intelligence force," Passy said. He also stressed the need for joint European defence.