Europe's governing body is doubling down on its immigration "values" — even after three of its member countries have been attacked by terrorists in just the last year.
Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, which serves as the executive body of the European Union, said Monday that open borders are still the best way to combat international terrorism, the Berlin Morning Post reported.
Noting the recent terror attacks in Paris, Brussels, Nice and Berlin, Juncker said that while terror-related investigations are ongoing, law enforcement officials should not make any "premature conclusions," specifically when it comes to refugees fleeing war-torn regions.
"The basic values for which the European Union stands are unchanged," Juncker said.
"Terror only takes us if we allow it. That is why we must not be paralyzed by the fear of leaving the extremists the interpretation of the events. Against the hatred of the terrorists we must put the concentrated will and the values of the population who want to live freely, openly and peacefully with each other," Juncker added, according to a German to English translation by Google.
Juncker specifically defended the Schengen Zone, Europe's "free movement" zone which has come under fire from some political parties and politicians in Europe. France's National Front party has used immigration issues and Schengen Zone reform to vault party leader Marine Le Pen into the polling lead in France's upcoming Presidential election.
The EU chief's comment came just days after a Tunisian-born man driving a truck plowed through a crowd of people at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more. The doubling down of Europe's immigration policies stands in contrast to that of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's response to the Berlin attack.
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said Monday that, along with Merkel, he intends to "extend controls" to Germany's borders in the hopes of thwarting further terror threats, especially when it comes to would-be terrorists posing as refugee migrants.
(H/T Weasel Zippers)
