Deputy Prime Minister for National Security, Gabriel Oprea, Minister of Internal Affairs, presented Monday at an extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) in Brussels, the mandate that President Iohannis and Prime Minister Ponta trusted him with, which states that Romania does not agree with the imposition of compulsory quotas of immigrants by the European Commission.
"The Deputy Prime Minister noted that under the mandate, Romania will participate in the relocation mechanism by taking a total of 1,705 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece, as well as another 80 people from outside the European Union and that it does not agree with the imposition of compulsory quotas by the European Commission, " said the press release sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and distributed by Agerpres.
In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea said that Romania supports the need for a common approach to the migration issue some European countries are faced with, considering that consistency with the strategic guidelines given by the extraordinary European Council of 23 April regarding the voluntary nature of the EU solidarity measures is necessary.
Moreover, the Interior Minister said that in order to take on a new political commitment regarding relocation intra-EU " a very careful quantification is needed of all practical issues that are generated by such a measure, such as financial implications, the national reception capacities, the integration of the relocated people in the host country during relocation and the issues about their return home. "
During the discussions with the Interior Ministers of EU member states and with members of the European Commission, Gabriel Oprea stressed that Romania actively contributes to the common security of the Union, ranking II as a number of experts working in FRONTEX and in particular, by securing 2,070 km of the EU external border, which it carries out with responsibility , acting as a an member of Schengen.
Referring to the situation recorded in the European countries, the Deputy Prime Minister argued, according to the statement cited the need for a comprehensive, integrating and properly funded strategy, covering both intervention at source by economic, social and education measures and cooperation with transit countries which play a crucial role in limiting massive departures to Europe.
"The Deputy Prime Minister for National Security, Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea, rated as extremely important the intensification of all measures to combat humans trafficking by strengthening and intensifying the exchange of information and data and he announced that Romania is ready to further contribute the operational activities of FRONTEX and other EU agencies in the field of security, " the statement reads.
Also, Deputy PM Oprea deemed it extremely important to take prompt measures for screening and identifying the persons who do not qualify for international protection and their return according to standards in the matter.
Deputy Prime Minister for National Security said that it is also necessary to conduct an ongoing monitoring of developments in other conflict zones that could generate massive flows of refugees, referring to Ukraine. It is also important to foster further cooperation with the United Nations on at least two lines of actions - the humanitarian aid it can provide in areas of conflict and missions of peacekeeping that we can launch and to strengthen areas of interest for the European Union , the quoted source indicates.
"We have always supported the principle of solidarity and Romania knows to be in solidarity with its European Union partners," said Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea, in his concluding address at the JHA Council.
During the meeting attended by the interior ministers of the European Union MS and European Commission representatives all aspects are discussed which are included in the package of proposals presented by the European Commission on September 9.