Just over a week ago, a Greek border guard was shot while attempting to stop a large group of illegal migrants from storming the borders.
About a month ago, a Polish soldier died from wounds sustained when he was stabbed through a border wall on the Belarus frontier.
In the past few months, there have been several attacks on police officers and civilians, as well as riots across European cities.
Being from Latvia, a country situated on the EU's external land border, I have witnessed firsthand the immense pressures placed on our law enforcement institutions. These pressures are not merely theoretical concerns discussed in the hallowed halls of Brussels. They're stark, daily realities that shape policies and lives across all 27 EU Member States. This is especially true for the 12 countries on the EU'sexternal land border and the 5 on the external sea border. It is in this context that I make the case for aFortress Europe, advocating for the construction of border walls and fences as essential measures for the security and stability of our continent.
The concept of Fortress Europe—building both metaphorical and physical walls around Europe—oftenfaces scepticism and opposition. Even the term itself is typically used negatively. However, this perspective fails to grasp the gravity of the situation faced by EU countries both in the North and South, countries like Latvia, Poland, Greece, and Spain, which stand as the first line of defence against illegal migration and, increasingly, cross-border crime and terrorism.
Our border guards are not just doing routine checks; they are on the front lines of a fight to keep order and safety. Attacks on them, including stabbings and killings, happen far too often. These men and women are not just protecting their own countries; they are the first line of defence for the entire European Union. Theirsafety is crucial, and it's our job to make sure they have what they need to do their work effectively and safely.
Some of our colleagues, ensconced in the relative safety of their nations' interiors, may view the concept of Fortress Europe as excessive or even offensive to their sensibilities. To them, the idea of erecting wallsand fences might evoke uncomfortable memories of the Berlin Wall, a symbol of division and repression. However, today's Europe faces a vastly different context. The threats to the EU are not ideological but tangible and immediate. While the fall of the Berlin Wall was a victory for freedom, it did not signal the end of walls where they were needed for protection.
The notion that border walls and fortified defences are incompatible with European values is a misconception. Security and freedom are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, without secure borders, our ability to uphold the very values that define Europe—freedom, democracy, and human rights—is compromised. The loss of life and the perpetual state of emergency some border regions experience is a price too high to pay for an abstract principle of openness.
Consider the human cost of inadequate border security. Border guards face tragedies, and civilians sufferfrom unchecked migration and criminal activity. The influx of illegal migrants, often aided by ruthless human traffickers, strains our resources and endangers lives. This issue goes beyond economic burden; it is about human dignity and security.
To my colleagues in governments and parliaments of EU states without external borders: understand that our call for fortified borders is not a campaign for isolation, but a call to reason. The discomfort some mightfeel towards these measures pales in comparison to the irreversible consequences of inaction. We cannot ignore the lessons of recent history, where porous borders have led to crises that strain our societies to the breaking point.
A Fortress Europe does not signify a closed Europe. It symbolises a Europe that is prepared to defend itscitizens, uphold its values, and maintain the stability necessary for our collective prosperity. In an era of unprecedented global challenges, we must adapt our strategies to ensure the safety and security of our union. This includes the construction of physical barriers where needed, enhanced surveillance, and robust law enforcement mechanisms.
The creation of a Fortress Europe is not just a defensive measure; it is a proactive step to safeguard our future. We owe it to our border guards, citizens, and the principles that founded the European Union to take these necessary actions. We should not shy away from the tough decisions needed to protect our home. The cost of discomfort is small compared to the value of human life and our continent's stability. Andlet's not forget: even fortresses have doors and windows. It is only polite to enter one's home the proper way.
