Last weekend’s sinking off Libya which claimed the lives of some 800 migrants finally prompted EU leaders to put the problem at the top of the agenda.
The process was hasty – within four days, 28 EU leaders agreed on a roadmap to tackle the crisis.
Beyond the soundbites on the need for EU solidarity, diplomats who spoke to journalists in the corridors of Brussels last Thursday indicated that member states were in disagreement over a number of issues, such as search-and-rescue missions and, especially, on refugee-sharing.
Within minutes, humanitarian organisations were shooting holes in the proposed action areas: Here are the salient points.
Strengthening presence at sea
The EU wants to reinforce its EU Mediterranean patrolling operations known as Triton and Poseidon by at least tripling the financial resources in 2015 and 2016.
Thanks to offers from individual EU members the initiative will have notably more ships, helicopters and other assets at its disposal. There is one major problem: Triton will not address the crisis in the Mediterranean unless the operational area is extended to the high seas where most of the deaths occur.
Humanitarian organisations also pointed out that Triton responds to rescue calls but does not patrol the seas searching for boats in distress. Yet, EU officials insisted the law of the sea means vessels always have to respond to calls for help.
Fighting traffickers
Leaders agreed to disrupt trafficking networks, by targeting their assets, through action in co-operation with enforcement agencies and police.
“We undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers,” they said in the conclusions.
The EU probably needs the blessing of the UN Security Council before it can forge ahead with any action in Libya, a potential move that has already elicited warnings from the Tripoli government.
Maltese NGOs said that while tackling traffickers might be effective in curbing smuggling activities from Libya, it will “definitely” lead to the opening up of new and possibly more dangerous routes.
Preventing illegal migration flows
The EU wants to increase support to Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan, among others, to monitor and control land borders and routes.
It wants to deploy European migration liaison officers in key countries to gather information on migratory flows and work with regional partners to build capacity for maritime border management and search and rescue operations.
Attempts are to be made to promote readmission of unauthorised economic migrants to countries of origin and transit.
There will also be a drive for the rapid return of illegal migrants from frontline member states.
Leaders also committed towards Regional Development and Protection programmes for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, a long-term proposal which many see as the ultimate goal to help ease off the refugee issue.
Such issues are to be discussed between the African Union and the key countries at a summit in Malta in the coming months.
Solidarity and responsibility
Emergency aid to frontline states like Italy and Malta will be increased while all options would be considered to organise emergency relocation between all member states on a voluntary basis.
Teams will be deployed in frontline member states for joint processing of asylum applications, including registration and finger-printing.
A pilot project on resettlement across the EU will be set up, offering places to individuals who qualify for protection. Again, this would be on voluntary basis. This means that it is up to member states to decide if they are to partake in the so-called burden sharing concept.
Reportedly, Germany, which accepts a disproportionate number of asylum seekers, wanted to stop the reference to “voluntary”. British Prime Minister David Cameron insisted Britain would not take in any additional refugees.
What was not discussed
The Dublin regulation: Arguments have been made that the law which stipulates that asylum-seekers should be dispatched to their European country of entry for processing has been a failure. This means that asylum seekers arriving in Malta may only apply for refugee status in Malta.
Processing centres outside EU: NGOs have consistently underlined the need for a migrant response and resource mechanism along the migratory routes in key countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The mechanism will provide a comprehensive range of services to identify people in need of help, counselling, referral and assistance, including voluntary return for economic migrants, among other solutions.
Sharing the burden of hosting refugees presents a conundrum that the EU has failed to tackle for years. Human rights lawyer Neil Falzon summed it up in the following manner: “Ultimately, the problem is that nobody wants refugees as neighbours.”
Reception centres: No mention was made about the need for dignified reception conditions for survivors and prompt access to asylum procedures.
Leaders are expected to discuss ideas at their next meeting in June but the feeling in the press room in Brussels on Thursday night is that nobody should hold their breath.