Juncker: EU countries guilty of hypocrisy

BRUSSELS: European Union nations are guilty of “outrageous hypocrisy” over discussions on expanding the bloc’s border security agency Frontex, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said.

“For more than two years, all EU heads of state and government have been demanding better protection along Europe’s external borders,” Juncker told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in comments published yesterday.

“And now suddenly there are concerns from all sides. It’s supposedly interfering in national sovereignty, everything’s going too fast and the numbers have gotten too high. It’s outrageous hypocrisy.”

In September, the commission suggested increasing the number of border guards in the permanent corps at Frontex’s disposal from 1,500 to 10,000 by 2020.

The proposal came after EU leaders said strengthening EU borders against illegal immigration was a priority at a summit at the end of June.

But many states were critical of the plans, prompting the Austrian presidency of the EU Council to suggest delaying the increase until 2027.

Earlier this month, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said 2025 could be a “feasible timeframe”.

Juncker accused those countries which had complained the loudest about underdeveloped border security of being the least engaged.

“Europe can’t work like this,” he said. “We have to act fast so that we’re prepared and so that the EU’s external borders are really under control.” — dpa