The European Union and the European Parliament yesterday reached an agreement in principle on the reform of European migration policy, more than three years after the presentation of this project by the Commission. Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, described this agreement as “historic” and acknowledged that it is not a perfect package, but said it “balances solidarity and responsibility” because it is “much better for all of us” . than what we had before.” Ursula von der Leyen, leader of the European Commission, said this agreement “will guarantee an effective European response to this European challenge” and means that “Europeans will decide who comes to the EU and who can stay, and not the people smugglers” .
Although the details have yet to be finalized, the agreement already reveals the main points of commitment for the “Pact on Migration and Asylum”, namely strengthening control over the arrival of migrants in the European Union. The agreement also aims to create centers close to borders to more quickly return those who are not entitled to asylum in the EU, and to set up a mandatory solidarity mechanism between Member States, for the benefit of states under migratory pressure stand (see text opposite). We must not forget that this agreement still needs to be formalized and adopted before the European elections, which will be held by the bloc’s 27 countries between 6 and 9 June.
In addition to the two European leaders, several EU countries were also satisfied with the agreement now reached. “We are of course pleased with the agreement and the fact that Europe speaks with one voice on migration and asylum issues,” said a note from the office of the Portuguese Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Ana Catarina Mendes also believes that Portugal “has always had progressive policies regarding migration and asylum, and therefore no major changes in Portuguese migration policy are expected as a result of the agreement now concluded at European level”.
In addition, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez believed that this agreement is of fundamental importance for Spain, one of the countries in Europe where irregular migrants enter for the first time. “It will make possible something very important: improving the management of our borders and managing migration flows in a more humane and coordinated way,” Sánchez said in the Spanish parliament.
Matteo Piantedosi, interior minister of Italy, one of the countries of entry for migrants from the Mediterranean, said that during the negotiations Rome was trying to “find a balanced solution that would allow the countries that form the borders [externas] of the European Union – and who are particularly exposed to migratory pressure – would no longer feel alone.’ ‘The adoption of the pact is a great success for Europe and for Italy, which will now be able to count on new rules to manage migration flows. flows and combating human traffickers,” said the Italian.
Greece, which together with Italy leads the way in the arrival of migrants seeking to enter Europe via the Mediterranean, especially from Turkey, also welcomed this agreement through its Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who described it as “an important European response to the crisis ‘. the great national effort to implement a strict but fair migration policy”.
The UN, through the High Commissioner for Refugees, called this agreement “a very important step”. “Now let’s move on to its implementation! UNHCR stands ready to advise and support,” wrote Filippo Grandi about the social network and the common approach that brings the promise of safe, dignified and orderly migration closer.”
Letter from 50 concerned NGOs
Despite the unanimity achieved in Brussels, Hungary and Slovakia’s speech was different on home soil. “We reject this migration pact as firmly as possible. No one can determine who enters Hungary, only us,” said the head of Magyar diplomacy, Péter Szijjártó, after a meeting with his Slovak counterpart, Juraj Blanár.
“No one can determine with whom the citizens of Hungary have to live”, a country that “in the most determined way” opposes the payment of fines for its refusal to receive migrants under the principle of redistribution of the 27, stressed the Hungarian in a position that coincides with that of his Slovak counterpart. “We are completely against the EU interfering in Slovakia’s sovereign affairs. This is not an issue where the EU has powers. We will not agree to that,” Blanár said.
Five dozen non-governmental organizations defending human rights expressed their concerns in a joint letter to the European institutions, saying the new measures will “reflect the failed approaches of the past and worsen their consequences.”
The new legislation “will normalize the arbitrary use of detention of migrants, including children and families, increase racial profiling, use ‘crisis procedures’ to enable obstruction, and return individuals to so-called ‘safe third countries’ where they are at risk to be threatened. violence, torture and arbitrary arrests,” the NGOs say.
Source: DN
