Ursula von der Leyen, the current head of the European Commission, has announced big plans to change how the European Union (EU) handles its borders and deals with migrants. She shared these ideas as part of her campaign to keep her job for another five years.
Von der Leyen wants to make significant changes to how the EU manages its borders. She plans to propose hiring many more people to guard Europe’s borders. Currently, there are about 10,000 European border and coast guards. Von der Leyen aims to increase this number to 30,000, tripling the current force.
She also wants to strengthen Frontex and Europol. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, helps protect the EU‘s borders, while Europol, the EU‘s law enforcement agency, fights crime across Europe. Enhancing these organizations is a crucial part of her strategy to improve security within the EU.
Another major aspect of her plan involves a new approach to sending migrants back to their home countries. While she didn’t provide all the details, Von der Leyen mentioned that this new approach would be more effective and humane.
Von der Leyen emphasized her commitment to protecting Europe’s borders. She stated, “We will not be nice to people who try to make our borders and citizens unsafe with tricky attacks.” She referred to instances where some countries push migrants across borders to create problems for the EU and believes these countries should face consequences.
If she retains her position, von der Leyen also plans to create two new important roles in the European Commission. One role would focus on helping new countries join the EU, while the other would work on improving relationships with countries around the Mediterranean Sea.
All these proposals are part of a comprehensive 31-page plan von der Leyen shared before the European Parliament’s vote on her reappointment. Her ideas highlight the importance she places on border control and migration management as critical issues for Europe.
Von der Leyen’s plans, if implemented, could bring significant changes to how the EU handles its borders and interacts with neighboring countries. However, she must first secure enough support in the European Parliament to continue her leadership and put these plans into action.