Peace demands strength for Europe: open borders, secure foreign policy!

Peace demands strength for Europe: open borders, secure foreign policy!

In his most recent Europe speech, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden formulated an urgent call for more self-confidence and sovereignty for Europe. The speech took place on Tuesday evening in Aachen Cathedral and opened the celebrations for this year's Charlemagne Prize ceremony. Frieden recalled Luxembourg's role as a model for European unification, especially since the country was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in 1985. This is an important symbol of the European project, which finds expression in the freedom of movement and connection of nations.

A central topic of Friedens' speech was the situation at Germany's borders, which he viewed as problematic. He was critical of the current border controls, which, in his opinion, have a negative impact on travel and trade. Peace advocated the need for open internal borders while emphasizing the importance of strong external borders to ensure security in Europe. In this context, he addressed the challenges facing the EU in managing migration, which also included europarl.europa.eu is highlighted.

Investing in European security

Peace called for investment in European security as a crucial step towards reclaiming European sovereignty. The Prime Minister pointed to the ongoing Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and underlined the need to take responsibility in security issues. He described investing in security not only as a strategic imperative, but also as a commitment to peace. Strength, says Frieden, is the best deterrent policy against aggressive neighbors like Russia.

In an appeal for European solidarity, he called for unwavering support for the Ukrainian people for as long as it is necessary to achieve a just and lasting peace. At the same time, he criticized the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and called for negotiations on a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians as well as comprehensive humanitarian aid for Gaza.

The role of Schengen in Europe

The Schengen zone remains an essential symbol of European integration. Since its introduction, it has increased mobility within Europe and is considered a fundamental element of the European internal market. At the same time, the EU is faced with the challenge of efficiently securing its external borders and reforming the processing of asylum applications. In 2015, up to 1.83 million illegal border crossings were recorded at the EU's external borders, a number that was reduced to 200,000 by 2021. This highlights the pressing challenges in the area of ​​border management, which are also faced by europarl.europa.eu be addressed.

The EU plans to tighten controls at the external borders and create new instruments to ensure security and ensure compliance with fundamental rights. These include the Schengen Information System, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the future European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is expected to be operational by mid-2025.

With the call for more self-confidence in European sovereignty and the strengthening of common security structures, Luc Frieden addresses a central issue that is likely to have a significant impact on the future of Europe. For successful geographical and political integration, it is crucial not only to preserve the EU's values ​​and principles, but also to actively develop them to meet the challenges ahead. The listeners in Aachen Cathedral were able to interpret these fundamental considerations as a call for unity and for active participation in shaping a stable and just Europe.