Bei der Wahl zur Vorsitzenden wurde Claudia Schmidt (EVP) mit 7 zu 5 Stimmen in der zweiten Runde gewählt. Den entscheidenden Unterschied machte am Ende die Fraktion Renew Europe aus, die in der ersten Runde zunächst für ihren eigenen Kandidaten, Willy Schulz, gestimmt hatte und sich aus Mangel an Stimmen nach der ersten Runde umentscheiden musste.
Ist diese klare Entscheidung wegführend für weitere Entscheidungen im Rahmen des aktuell diskutierten Gesetzesentwurf? – Kira Stock

Im Anschluss führte die EPA Kurz-interviews mit der Vorsitzenden der Kommission, Dr. Lotti Svensson, dem Präsidenten des Rats der EU, Fernanda de Silva, und der Vorsitzenden des Europäischen Parlaments, Claudia Schmidt. Alle oben genannten haben über die kommende Änderungen in der Politik für Flüchtlinge berichtet. – Barbara Lauterbach

 The Article 1 which supposes the establishment of a new European agency for refugees and asylym seekers was supported by some of the deputees of the European Parliament. In particular, Ms. Elmer Nilsson (SSAP) named this initiative to be an instrument for the „security of rights of the migrants“. The Article 2 was partially supported by Willy Schulz (Renew Europe), who suggested to save this data only for a period time and Ms. Magda Hansen (Renew Europe) who expressed concern about the Data protection. 

For Article 4, which concerns how exactly the refugees should be splitted between the EU-member states, were made multiple additions by the different fractions making the Article very complex. For the fifth Article there was a clear positioning in the parliament: The first priority of Frontex should be saving lifes as a basic rule.

After this step in law making on the european level the council of the EU has to agree with or add corrections to the Articles. While the parliament works in the goals und means of the European Union as a whole, the Council of Ministers decides based on the interests of the member state they were elected in. Based on this and the experience of the last years espacially the following topics should be watched with care: Money, Frontex and Human Rights.
– Barbara Lauterbach & Emilia Müller

Mr. Marx supports complete freedom for the migrants movement: „The borders are constructed only in our minds“. He has a complete liberal perspective on security policy: „We should just let everyone come in“. 

Mr. Dupont voiced an opposite opinion and called for stricter measures in order „to protect our christian values“. At the moment France rejects the majority of the refugees applications because it cant support any more people. Identity and Democracy fights for national economy and security and reminds of the experience after World War II when citizens rebuilt their countries. Mr. Duppont also pointed at the fact that cultures involved cant be mixed, and the borders of the European Union should prevent from that.   

Both interviewees positively react to the efforts of Frontex. However Mr. Marx thinks that they should be more concentrrated on the rescue operations and transportation of the refugees, while Mr. Dupont calls for better border security and the control over the databank of the fingerprints. – Barbara Lauterbach 

There were clear interest groups in the beginning. Bulgaria, Italy, Spain and Greece were in contact with Hungary and Poland. The leaders, judging from the percentage of the EU-population they represent, France, Sweden and Germany could be seen together. A picture that could be found in the discussions later on. Also there were a lot of changes, the Council fully agreed tot he Article 1 and 3. That includes the overall agreement to put an agency in charge of the critical matter of refugees in europe and the basic right for refugees to even apply for asylum. 

For Article 2 the ministers followed the line oft he commission and put the minimum age for a need to registrate back up from the age of seven to thee age of twelve. The most discussed Article was number 4, the Council added party that implemented a clear understanding oft he impartance of human rights in the law: Clear standards for accomondation. There are similar influences changes made in the other Articles, giving the importance of life and rescue credit. Lastly they added a sixth Article to even create a new agency dedicated tot he prevention of  causes of flight and secured flight routes.  -Emilia Müller