European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the it has suggested targeted sanctions against transport companies that are accused of assisting in the smuggling of persons into the European Union (EU) via Belarus.
According to reports, von der Leyen said the measures would bar any transport company involved in assisting migrants from accessing EU airspace, landing at airports, arriving at ports, or crossing EU territory from accessing EU airspace, landing at airports, arriving at ports, or crossing EU territory.
"There are specialised travel agencies that sell all-inclusive packages that include visas, flights, hotels, and, cruelly, taxis and buses to the border. Let's be clear: these migrants are being deceived by deceptive promises "she stated The problem, according to Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, is the result of people being "sold a fiction" by multinational smuggling networks. "This is not a migratory issue or crisis; it is a security threat, and we must address it as such," Schinas continued. The proposals, if accepted, would increase pressure on Belarus to resolve the migration situation in EU nations bordering Belarus, such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
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