Busuttil calls for ‘European Border Guards’ to protect external borders

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has called on EU member states to protect external borders “together”, and if necessary through the setting up of European Border Guards and a European Coast Guard.

Addressing the EPP statutory congress in Madrid, Busuttil said that countries like Malta needed the assistance of the other states to protect their maritime borders.

Busuttil said it took a crisis for Europe to show its true colours. The unprecedented migration flows witnessed recently forced Europe to face the stark choice between re-erecting national borders and showing that Europe stands for something. 

“Re-erecting national borders is simple, but consider this: walls do not just stop people coming in - they also stop our own people from going out and this means blocking our own freedom of movement,” Busuttil said.

“So once again, Europe is at a defining moment when the forces of staying together clash with the forces of going it alone.”

Busuttil asked his European peers whether wanted to be remembered as the  

generation of European leaders who stood up to be counted or those who resigned themselves to being a passing footnote in the history of European unity.

“We cannot and must not resign ourselves. We must show that we can deal effectively both with the causes and the consequences of the migratory flows. So we must act.”

Busuttil said that the migratory flow should be curtailed through an effective foreign policy which makes a real difference in countries like Syria, Libya and Turkey and not remain helpless on the root causes of migration.

“We must protect our external borders together and if necessary by forming European Border Guards and a European Coast Guard - because the vast external maritime borders of my country and of the other Mediterranean countries are also your external borders.”

The PN leader added that member states needed to share fairly the responsibility of dealing with those who make it to Europe, treating people with dignity. 

“Doing this together is complex and requires decisive actions on many fronts and a give-and-take. But it has also one big advantage. It helps us do together what none of us can do on their own,” he said.

“When push came to shove, the EPP, our political family, was always there to lead the way and to take the bold and ambitious decisions in the European Union when it really matters. This is what makes us different from the other political forces. This is what our citizens expect from us. And this is why they trust us to lead in Europe.”

Busuttil called on the EPP to take the lead: “We have done it in the past. We can do it again.”