Unwanted migration: There is a risk of trouble over migration policy at the EU summit

The October summit of the EU states threatens to be overshadowed by a new dispute over asylum policy. Negotiators from the heads of state and government were unable to agree on a common line during preparatory rounds for the top meeting that began this morning, EU officials reported in Brussels on Wednesday evening. It is therefore unclear whether there will ultimately be a joint declaration on migration issues.

There are therefore differences of opinion regarding, among other things, the question of what measures should be taken to accelerate the deportation of rejected asylum applications. Some member states are pushing for money to be given to safe partner states, for example in Africa, to temporarily accept rejected asylum seekers who cannot be immediately returned to their home countries. However, critics fear that people there could face inhumane or degrading treatment.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, among others, is also calling for asylum procedures to be carried out in external “hotspots” in countries outside the EU and for those seeking protection to no longer be allowed into the Union beforehand.

Criticism of German border controls

The discussion is fueled by national solo efforts in recent weeks and months. Several EU partners recently expressed a lack of understanding of the federal government’s decision to order controls at all German land borders after the terrorist attack at a city festival in Solingen and thus restrict freedom of movement in the Schengen area, which is actually free of border controls.

Poland wants to set an example

Also controversial is Poland’s announcement that it would temporarily suspend the right of access to asylum procedures in response to migrants smuggled towards the EU from Russia and Belarus. “We need a clear and decisive European response to counter these activities, without allowing Russia and Belarus to use our own values ​​against us,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote in a letter to heads of state and government on Monday of the EU states.

However, the head of the Commission is open-minded about an Italian pilot project for handling asylum procedures in Albania and the idea of ​​external accommodation for rejected asylum seekers. The Dutch government, among others, now wants to lead the way with the reception camps. According to information on Wednesday, it is considering flying rejected asylum seekers to Uganda. The country should then accommodate them in reception camps and be financially compensated for this.

Implementing asylum reform takes time

The background to the current debate is that the EU asylum reform passed in the spring is viewed by many member states as insufficient to get the problems caused by unwanted migration under control. In addition, implementation could take until June 2026 due to the transition period.

With the reform, member states will be obliged to have uniform procedures at the external borders so that it can be quickly determined whether asylum applications are unfounded and the refugees can then be deported more quickly and directly from the external border. After crossing the border, people arriving from countries that are considered safe should be taken to strictly controlled reception facilities under prison-like conditions.

In addition, it should be ensured that some of the asylum seekers will be taken away from heavily burdened countries such as Italy and Greece in the future. Countries that do not want to accept refugees should be forced to make compensation payments.

In addition to discussions on migration policy, discussions on the Middle East conflict and the situation in Ukraine are on the agenda at the EU summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected as a guest.

Summit website