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EU Commission: Brunner becomes Migration Commissioner

by AI | 17.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented the distribution of posts in her future Commission on Tuesday. Austria’s Finance Minister Magnus Brunner is to take care of migration agendas. According to expert Gerald Knaus, Brunner is “so to speak the EU’s last chance”.

Archive image - "There are great challenges ahead of us, but also opportunities to strengthen Europe's values and security," said Brunner, according to a broadcast. Photo: APA/Roland Schlager

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Brussels/Strasbourg/Vienna – Austria’s Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (EPP) will be responsible for Migration and Home Affairs in the new EU Commission. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her list of the new team members and their assigned portfolios in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The German said in her press conference that she was convinced Brunner would “master the assigned dossier of Migration excellently.” For all candidates, it was stipulated that they would be Commissioners bearing political responsibility without needing a technical background: “Brunner has a legal background and an excellent background as a minister.”

Brunner himself said according to the release: “It is an honor for me to have been given the portfolio for internal security and migration in the EU Commission by President Ursula Von der Leyen. This area is central to the future and functioning of the European Union.” Austria has clearly positioned itself regarding internal security in Europe and is successfully combating irregular migration. “We face great challenges ahead, but also opportunities to strengthen Europe’s values and security.”

Migration expert Gerald Knaus told the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten” (online edition from Tuesday) that Brunner is “virtually the EU’s last chance.” Knaus: “If this Commission does not succeed in regulating Schengen and asylum, then Schengen is history.” The EU has pursued plans in the area of migration for ten years, which have had very little effect. Therefore, “it is not bad if someone from the outside comes in, who has not been working on the topic for a long time. He can objectively look at what has worked well and why we have failed with so many plans that sound good.” (09/17/2024)

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