The article was last updated at 8:39 p.m.
This is not a contradiction, said the nominated EU Migration Commissioner from Austria, Magnus Brunner (ÖVP), on Tuesday evening in Brussels during his hearing before the European Parliament. With regard to his personality, the current finance minister said he was not a “showman” and was a quick learner. He renewed his support for a “full Schengen area”.
Commitment to a “complete Schengen area”
In response to the eagerly awaited question about the admission of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area, which is currently blocked by Austria, Brunner explained his commitment to a “complete Schengen area”, as he had already completed the written questionnaire in advance. He emphasized that it is “the member states who decide who is admitted to Schengen.” “We are well on the way to ensuring the full admission of Romania and Bulgaria. The states have had a good dialogue in the last few weeks and months.” “A lot has happened here” and “the process will now be continued”.
Brunner has to answer questions from members of the Committee for “Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs” in the EU Parliament. They will then decide whether they consider the Vorarlberger to be suitable for the post of EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs. In his opening statement, Brunner described himself as a “convinced European” with a “pragmatic, goal-oriented” approach. As a lawyer, he firmly believes in the need for rules to be respected and implemented.
EU asylum and migration pact as a priority
With regard to his future work, Brunner described the implementation of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact as a priority. He also wants to start consultations as soon as possible in order to be able to present a legislative proposal on returns. He was responding to a demand from several EU states that want it to be easier to deport rejected asylum seekers. In addition, it is also important to create legal paths for migrants into the EU labor market, which are also needed there.
In the subsequent first round of questions with the so-called coordinators of the committee, who will decide later in the evening whether Brunner will go through or fail, deportations and “return hubs” were a dominant topic. Here Brunner was evasive: When repeatedly asked whether he could exclude controversial return centers in third countries, he replied: “Such a concept would have to be organized in a humane and legally flawless manner, in cooperation with international organizations.”
“We should decide, not the smugglers”
He understands “that return centers only apply to people whose asylum applications have been rejected and who have to leave the country.” His repatriation proposal will cover a broad spectrum, not just the external dimension: “We should decide, not the smugglers.” Regarding the “Italy-Albania Agreement,” which provides for Italian reception centers in Albania and thus the outsourcing of asylum seekers, Brunner said, “I am open to new ideas.”
When asked repeatedly when the new EU deportation law could be expected to be presented, the Austrian said “I can’t give you an exact date.” Before that, he will carry out “comprehensive consultations”. But he sees “time pressure” to present the law quickly.
Good chances for Brunner
Brunner’s chances of being confirmed after the hearing are probably not bad since he is not considered one of the weak candidates in Brussels. He caused a surprise in advance with his written answer to a list of questions from EU MPs: In it, contrary to the government line in Vienna, he spoke out in favor of full inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area. This will probably also be an issue at the further hearing.
You can still follow the hearing in the live stream:
Brunner was preceded by the Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva (startups, research and innovation) and the Irishman Michael McGrath (democracy, justice and the rule of law) on Tuesday morning, followed by the Croatian Dubravka Suica (Mediterranean region) and the Dane Daniel Jörgensen (energy and housing). The Austrian and the Swede Jessika Rosswall (environment, water resilience and circular economy) are now in the evening.
The Slovak Maroš Šefčovič (trade, economic security, transparency and inter-institutional relations), the Maltese Glenn Micallef (sport, youth, intergenerational fairness and culture), the Luxembourg Christoph Hansen (agriculture) and the Greek Apostolos Tzitzikostas (transport and tourism) – the were questioned in the EU Parliament on Monday – passed without any problems, according to media reports. The 26 commission candidates need a two-thirds majority in their committees. If a two-thirds majority speaks out against them, they are considered rejected. If there is not a two-thirds majority in the other direction, an additional round of questions or further written questions may follow.
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**Interview with Magnus Brunner, Austria’s Nominee for EU Commissioner for Migration**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Brunner. With your recent nomination and confirmation hearing, there’s a lot of interest in your vision for the EU’s migration policies. You’ve mentioned a commitment to a “full Schengen area.” Could you elaborate on that?
**Magnus Brunner**: Absolutely. I believe that a complete Schengen area is essential for a unified Europe. It’s crucial that Romania and Bulgaria are welcomed into the Schengen framework, as it strengthens our cooperation and security. I’ve been in discussions with both countries, and significant progress has been made. I’m committed to ensuring that this process continues constructively.
**Interviewer**: You have expressed intentions to prioritize the EU Asylum and Migration Pact. What specific measures are you looking to implement?
**Magnus Brunner**: My main focus will be on creating a robust legal framework that facilitates both the returns of those whose asylum claims have been denied and the introduction of legal pathways for migrants to enter the labor market. We need to ensure our approach is humane and respects international law while also responding swiftly to the demands of our member states.
**Interviewer**: There was a lot of discussion during your hearing about return policies and the controversial idea of return centers in third countries. What is your stance on this?
**Magnus Brunner**: It’s important that any such concept is organized legally and ethically, in partnership with international organizations. We must ensure that these facilities prioritize human rights and dignity. I want to reinforce that our decisions must be made based on the principles we stand for, not left to smugglers.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned being open to new ideas, such as the “Italy-Albania Agreement.” Can you explain what you envision in terms of collaboration with third countries?
**Magnus Brunner**: My approach is to maintain an open dialogue and explore all avenues that may provide a solution to our migration challenges. It’s vital that we work with neighboring countries in a way that is mutually beneficial and respects the rights of individuals seeking asylum.
**Interviewer**: as a self-described “convinced European,” what do you see as the biggest challenge for the EU in terms of migration in the coming years?
**Magnus Brunner**: The biggest challenge will be balancing security with compassion. We must ensure that our borders are secure while also being a haven for those genuinely in need of protection. This requires a collaborative effort among member states to arrive at comprehensive and pragmatic solutions.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Mr. Brunner, for sharing your insights with us today. We look forward to seeing how your strategies develop in your new role.
**Magnus Brunner**: Thank you for having me! I am optimistic about what we can achieve together in Europe.