What rules should apply if a particularly large number of migrants come to the EU irregularly? The governments of the member states argued about this issue for a long time. Now there is a compromise.
The EU states have achieved a breakthrough after weeks of dispute over a core element of the planned asylum reform. The Spanish EU Council Presidency announced on Platform X that there is a common position on the EU Commission’s proposals for the controversial crisis regulation.
Several diplomats confirmed the agreement, which enables important talks with the European Parliament to finalize the asylum reform. The federal government also presented the compromise as its own success, even though the plans did not make any progress for a long time because of their concerns.
Humanitarian concerns of the federal government
There has been intense debate over the crisis regulation in recent weeks. It is a central element of the planned EU asylum reform. In the event of a particularly strong increase in migration, it could be used to extend the period during which people can be held in prison-like conditions. Z
This could also increase the number of people who are eligible for the planned strict border procedures. In general, the plans for the EU asylum reform provide for numerous additions and tightening measures in order to limit unwanted migration.
With regard to the crisis regulation, the Greens within the federal government in particular had humanitarian concerns. They feared that protection standards for refugees could be lowered too much. After increasing pressure from partner countries, Berlin gave up its resistance last week.
According to information from government circles, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made informal use of his directive authority and ordered that resistance to the crisis regulation be given up. After the agreement, Scholz spoke of a “historic turning point”.
Compromise with Italy
While last week it initially looked like there was movement in the dispute over the crisis regulation, Italy blocked itself because of the role of private sea rescue organizations in the Mediterranean. Rome also agreed to the compromise in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States.
According to diplomats, the right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni pushed through the removal of language that was intended to ban the use of crisis measures following the arrival of many migrants for sea rescue operations. Hungary and Poland voted against the draft crisis regulation; the proposals are not sharp enough for them. However, the necessary majority was still achieved. Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia abstained.
Praise and criticism from Germany
Even though there were only minor concessions to Germany, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock considered the agreement a success. “We fought hard and successfully in Brussels until the last minute to ensure that there was no weakening of minimum humanitarian standards such as access to education and health care,” said the Green politician according to the statement.
“Through our efforts, we have also ensured that the provisions of the Crisis Ordinance can only be invoked in very well-founded cases.” Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser explained that important changes had been implemented on German initiative.
Ultimately, Germany was only able to implement a few changes compared to the earlier proposal. This is particularly bitter for the Greens because they once again had to support decisions that they originally did not want to accept.
Amnesty International criticized, according to a statement: “This agreement risks leaving people stuck at Europe’s borders, detained or destitute, and does not contribute to improving the protection of asylum seekers in the EU.” It was “dangerous” to deny asylum seekers their rights, and a disproportionate response to situations “that countries could certainly deal with under existing rules,” it said.
Faeser sees German ideas realized
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sees German “ideas of humanity and order” being realized in European unification. The SPD politician explained in Berlin that important changes had been implemented on German initiative.
“There is no lowering of humanitarian standards when receiving people in crisis situations,” explained Faeser. “Complete registration of all arriving people must always be ensured. And: The regulations provided for by the crisis regulation can only be activated by a decision by a qualified majority of the EU member states in the Council and not by individual member states. These are the hurdles high.” There needs to be a clear limitation on irregular migration and relief for municipalities.
The agreement will lay the “foundation for a solidarity-based distribution of the burdens in Europe,” said SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. “At the same time, humanitarian reception standards are maintained. This is an important signal, especially for the municipalities in our country, which are rightly demanding relief.”
Time is running out
Following the agreement at the level of the governments of the EU states, an agreement on the reform project should now be reached with the European Parliament as quickly as possible. “We are facing tough negotiations here, for which we only have a few months left due to the delay in the Council,” said SPD European politician Birgit Sippel.
Time is of the essence: projects that have not been negotiated with the governments of the member states by the European elections in June 2024 could then be called into question again and be delayed for a long time. In the case of the planned reform of the asylum system, this would be a particularly big setback. The project has been in the works for years. Right-wing parties in particular, such as the AfD, have long accused the EU of failing in the fight against irregular migration.
The number of migrants is currently rising sharply again. In order to stop smugglers, several Central European EU states are temporarily increasing controls at some of their borders again. Slovakia decided on Wednesday to send police officers to the southern border with Hungary. The neighboring countries Czech Republic, Poland and Austria had previously started stricter controls on the border with Slovakia.
According to Federal Interior Minister Faeser, the stricter controls are closely coordinated with Germany. A week ago, she had already ordered “additional, flexible, priority checks on the smuggling routes at the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
