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11 September 2019It is one of the news of the EU Commission. The Greek will be Margaritis Schinas, 57 (former spokeswoman for the Juncker Commission), the new Commissioner for Security, with responsibility for migration. And among its competences, there is the "protection of the European way of life". A statement that has triggered many controversies.French perplexity
"It raises questions," said Senegalese-born French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye, who said she was "personally very doubtful" about the title of the post also "if the perimeter of the portfolio should not differ from that of the previous Commission" .
Amnesty's concerns
"There is a risk of sending a worrying message," Amnesty International warned. "The people who migrated contributed to the European way of life throughout its history," Eve Geddie, director of the Office of the NGO reminded, "The European way of life that the EU must protect is that which respects human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law ".
Criticism by the Greens and Social Democrats
The new portfolio, assigned to Schinas, a member of the center-right New Democracy party, had already been criticized by the Green groups and the Social Democrats, who announced initiatives in the European Parliament ahead of the hearings of the new Commissioners in October.
Contrast from Letta
Among the critics there is also the former premier Enrico Letta: "With frankness the competence of the new EU Commission on migrations re-named 'Protect our way of life', even not. Simply no. But not really", has tweeted.