At the European Parliament in Brussels, during the ongoing hearings of future commissioners, MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska of the Committee on Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), asked questions of Magnus Brunner, the Austrian candidate for Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration.
Jadwiga Wiśniewska asked the commissioner-designate about the protection of the EU’s external borders: “Are you in favor of EU funding for barriers at the EU’s external borders?” The MEP also referred to a statement by Brunner in which he spoke of ensuring a balance between solidarity and responsibility. As she noted, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland has taken in over a million war refugees, which it financed from its own budget. “We know that the migration pact includes a ‘take or pay’ principle. Given that Poland has borne such a huge financial burden in providing assistance to war refugees, will it be exempt from this obligation?” she asked.
Magnus Brunner, speaking about border infrastructure, stated that “funds must be used where they are most effective and where, ultimately, they bring European added value.” On the issue of striking a balance between solidarity and responsibility, he said that “every member state must be treated equally,” but “some want more responsibility, others more solidarity.” “The border countries, which are most at risk, will have to shoulder more responsibility, while the other countries will have to show more solidarity, and we must strive for precisely this balance. That is the purpose of this pact, and we must implement it,” said the Austrian politician.
