4 chapters across the catalog
Interior ministers from the EU met in Tallinn to discuss the arrival of 85,000 migrants on Italian coasts since the start of the year. Italy's request for other member states to open their ports to migrant ships was met with opposition. The disagreement highlights the lack of solidarity within the EU regarding the distribution and management of Mediterranean migrant arrivals.
Schengen Zone, Austrian Border Quotas and Migrant Smuggling
Austria announced new quotas and tightened controls at twelve border points, including the Spielfeld crossing with Slovenia, threatening the open-border Schengen zone. Meanwhile, Frontex reports that migrant smuggling from Libya to Italy has reached record levels, with smugglers packing more people onto unsafe vessels.
EU Border Defense and the "It Can't Happen Here" Warning
The hosts reference Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here" to discuss the erosion of liberties and the rise of centralized control. They report on EU plans to triple spending on border defense and create a new European Border and Coast Guard based in Strasbourg. This new agency will replace Frontex and aims to manage the migration crisis while maintaining the "territorial integrity" of member states.
Frontex Agency, EU Border Management Centers
Frontex, the EU agency responsible for border management, operates various specialized centers across Europe, including land border centers in Berlin and sea border centers in Greece. Despite these institutions, the hosts argue the "Schengen" system of free movement is collapsing under the weight of the current migration wave. They describe the situation as a historic "invasion" that the EU is failing to manage effectively.
