Brussels, 24^th August 2015

 

PRESS RELEASE

THALYS ATTACK or MIGRATION? It’s SCHENGEN’s fault! (not really).

 

In the aftermath of the attempted attack on a train connecting Amsterdam to Paris, Belgian Prime Minister, has argued that Schengen must be reformed. This comes a few days after the shocking statements by German interior minister who said to BBC that he could not exclude a suspension of border-free Schengen Agreement due to the migrants crisis.

“Each time the EU Faces a challenge – be it asylums seekers, migration of Roma people or terrorism – too many politicians run around like headless chickens arguing that it is all Schengen’s fault and that it must be reformed. It’s becoming a joke: what if Texas or California put into question freedom of movement across the US every time there is a shooting somewhere on their territory?” argued Pietro De Matteis, President of the European Federalist Party.

“The fact that somebody jumps on a train in Brussels and start shooting in Liege or just after the Belgian border in Lille does not make any difference. The problem is to avoid that that person jumps on a train with that gun in the first place by putting in place a functioning European Intelligence Service” continued Pietro De Matteis.

 

“The same is true for migration: closing our national borders will not stop asylum seekers to keep on looking for a better future in Europe. We need to create legal channels to ensure that those who have right to come to Europe can do it in a safe and human way. Also we need a sound EU Migration and Development policy to deal with this issue with a long term perspective and not in an emergency situation as we have been doing since March (!)” concluded the President.

About the European Federalist Party

The European Federalist Party (EFP) is the only, truly pan-European political party campaigning for a more democratic and federal Europe. The EFP was founded in 2011 by citizens from all over Europe and has since developed into a cross-border movement that ran for the last European Parliament elections in six countries defending the same pan-European programme voted by its members at the 2013 EFP Federal Convention. The EFP contributed to the introduction of several pieces of European legislation including the European Citizens’ Initiative and the EU roaming regulation.

For more information on this Press Release or to arrange an interview with the President, please contact Michel Caillouët, by email: EFP.Press@federalistparty.eu or by mobile: +33 679 563 854.

For urgent media intervention, please copy in your email also the President of the European Federalist Party by writing at: Pietro.DeMatteis@federalistparty.eu .

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