Finland Times

According to the European Commission proposal, the new authority would be able to send its border guard troops to the Schengen external borders regardless of the view of the member states on the subject.

Speaking after a Parliamentary Grand Committee meeting, Interior Minister Petteri Orpo said the position of the government is for each member state to be responsible first and foremost for its borders.

Orpo said the country supports the strengthening of the European border control; however, there are different opinions on the measures to be used.

The control of freedom of movement within the Schengen borders has failed when, for instance, Greece has not been able to control its own borders. In the end, Greece had to ask for assistance in monitoring its borders.

“The obligation to accept assistance should be quite low,” Orpo said.

According to Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, the negotiations are to prepare for situation similar to that of Greece when a country asks for help.

“We are cautiously positive in such cases when a situation in a member state border can cause damage to other countries,” said Sipilä.

Finland is not alone in the opposition to transferring border control to Brussels. Countries such as Poland and other Eastern European nations want to maintain sovereignty in control of their borders.

On the other hand, Germany and France are pushing for a common border guard.

The joint border guard will be used, if a member state is subject to huge migratory pressures which consequently affect the whole Schengen area.

Specific details of the border control and the joint border guard force is scheduled to be discussed in January next year.