European countries are not sufficiently prepared for natural, industrial, and military-related disasters (Predoiu)

European countries are currently not sufficiently prepared to intervene in the event of natural, industrial or military-related disasters, Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu said on Tuesday at the informal JHA Council in Copenhagen.

"The public, citizens and communities in all European countries still live at a level of collective mentality formed in times of peace, calm and tranquility. In reality, things have changed radically in some places and the logical reaction is to adapt to reality, to be prepared for it, no matter what efforts it involves," said Predoiu, according to a release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued to AGERPRES.

According to the Minister Predoiu, "the resilience of societies involves resources, cooperation between countries and cooperation between Governments and citizens, it involves honesty and responsibility in explaining this new reality to citizens and, in parallel, in allocating the necessary resources".

He highlighted that, in the effort to raise awareness of the new security reality, the first step must be taken by leaders, by those who lead governments and countries.

He mentioned several key-elements for making returns more efficient, with an emphasis on introducing the obligation of cooperation with third-party nationals' authorities and the related sanctions, the concept of "return hubs", voluntary returns and the allocation of additional resources and modern tools for Frontex to support them.

"The involvement of third-party partners must be seen in close connection with the support we offer, which could represent, on the one hand, an incentive and, on the other, a guarantee that we will not shift the responsibility onto their shoulders, but will share it", the Minister of the Interior stressed.

"The lack of vision and coherence of the policies of some European leaders and governments has led to crisis situations regarding illegal migration in some EU member states in recent years. The Romanian Interior Ministry has taken this threat seriously and today we have practically a level of migration reduced to zero. But border protection is not enough. Legislatively, at the European level, we must improve the mechanisms for returning illegal migrants. I believe that the EU and some European governments should give up naivety in terms of combating illegal migration", said Predoiu.

He supported "strengthening the return capacity and the political will to apply it".

As to the fight against drugs, the third topic discussed at the JHA Council, the minister mentioned that it is a confirmed fact that all European countries have serious problems related to drug trafficking and consumption.

"On the other hand, regarding the consumption of soft drugs, there is no uniformity or harmony in the policies of European states. (...) I believe that each country has the right to organize itself as it considers in this regard, through democratically adopted laws. And I am convinced that Romania must remain at the principle of zero tolerance towards trafficking and consumption and that the Romanian Police must continue the fight against drugs started two years ago and even better and to permanently increase its efficiency in this fight", said Catalin Predoiu.