The statement made by one EU spokesperson was quite revealing.
The European Commission’s spokesperson commented on the temporary suspension of asylum rights in relation to Poland at a press conference in Brussels on Monday. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Saturday that his government would present a new migration strategy on Tuesday, with one of its main elements being the temporary regional suspension of asylum rights. Tusk stated that the government will demand the acceptance of the temporary regional suspension of asylum rights in the EU, as it is well known how Lukashenka, Putin, human smugglers, and traffickers abuse this right and go against the essence of asylum rights.
The Brussels reaction has arrived. Anita Hipper, an EU spokesperson, responding to related journalist questions, stated that it is important and essential for the union to protect its external borders, particularly from Russia and Belarus, which have exerted significant pressure on border control over the past three years, undermining the security of the entire EU. She emphasized that member states must ensure access to asylum procedures.
According to the spokesperson, the Commission continues to work on providing member states with the necessary tools to respond to such hybrid attacks. She recalled that at the EU summit last December, leaders of member states condemned hybrid attacks, including the use of migrants from third countries for political purposes, specifically in the cases of Russia and Belarus. She highlighted the Commission’s ongoing cooperation with member states in countering hybrid attacks initiated by Moscow and Minsk.
“We do everything to support member states through agencies like the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). In addition, we utilize our toolbox and collaboration with NATO to address hybrid threats. However, we also have obligations arising from international agreements and EU law,” the EU spokesperson pointed out.
