Migration will once again dominate a European Union summit with time running out for EU leaders to come up with a joint solution to regulate the influx of migrants entering the bloc. Anthony Manduca looks at the prospects for a successful summit.
Another EU summit, and again migration tops the agenda. The bloc’s inability so far to reform its Common European Asylum System has led to the rise of right-wing populist parties, caused friction between traditionally close friends such as Italy and France and Italy and Malta, and triggered a rebellion in Germany’s governing coalition.
European citizens, especially those from EU Member States which have witnessed a huge influx on migrants over the years, have grown impatient and have long demanded collective action by the bloc. Many observers consider this upcoming summit to be Europe’s last chance to come to terms with this phenomenon, otherwise it could be ‘every country for itself’, which is the worst possible outcome.
The importance of this summit is shown by the fact that a pre-summit meeting is being held in Brussels today attended by 16 EU leaders including those of Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Malta who will hold urgent talks on migration at a meeting chaired by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Tackling migration needs to be carried out on many fronts, which is why it is such a complicated affair. People smugglers must be stopped, the frontline migrant European States must be relieved of their burden, the Dublin Regulation reformed, more effort must be made at stabilising the situation in Libya, Europe’s external borders strengthened, more funds will need to be allocated to Africa and a clear distinction made between genuine asylum seekers and economic migrants.
Will the EU summit make progress on any of these goals? It looks like there is no appetite at the moment for the reform of the Dublin Regulation – this determines which country is responsible for processing an asylum seeker’s application, which is usually the first EU Member State that the migrants set foot in.
However, according to the draft conclusions of the summit, which were leaked to the media, EU leaders are likely to endorse plans to create so-called ‘regional disembarkation platforms’ which would provide “rapid processing to distinguish between economic migrants and those in need of international protection”.
The aim, it says, is to “reduce the incentive to embark on perilous journeys”.
The original draft also stated that EU countries should “take all the necessary internal legislative and administrative measures” to prevent asylum seekers from freely travelling across the bloc. This looked like a concession to Germany’s Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Social Union – the sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union – who wanted to unilaterally prevent some asylum seekers from crossing into Germany, causing a rift in the German coalition.
If we can give billions of euros to Turkey as part of a migrant deal which is largely working, then we can do the same with these other countries
However, this part of the draft statement was removed after objections by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who objected to provisions that said asylum seekers would have to be returned to the EU country they had first logged their claim in, which often means Italy. We will have to see what the reaction of Mr Seehofer will be and whether he can be accommodated at the EU summit. Mr Seehofer had given Chancellor Merkel a two-week ultimatum to reach an EU deal to allow Germany to turn back asylum seekers who previously registered in another member country.
Sources in Brussels told The Sunday Times of Malta that the proposed ‘regional disembarkation platforms’ would be funded by the EU and could be set up in a number of countries which were safe and free from turmoil, such as Ghana and Nigeria in West Africa and Kosovo or Albania in the Balkans.
“Such countries could receive billions of euros in EU funds which would ensure that these centres adhered to EU standards and people residing there had all their needs taken care of. If we can give billions of euros to Turkey as part of a migrant deal which is largely working, then we can do the same with these other countries,” the source said.
“So there are two different scenarios: The first is if a group of migrants are rescued in the Mediterranean, they will not go to Italy or Malta but will be taken to one of these centres in, for example, Kosovo or Albania, where if it is established that they are economic migrants they will be sent back to their country. If they have a right to asylum in the EU, they will be granted it.”
“The second scenario,” the source said, “is to have EU-run centres in countries such as Nigeria or Ghana, similar to the one that already exists in Niger which is administered by the UNHCR, where people can apply for asylum in Europe. The idea is to prevent asylum seekers getting on a boat and making a perilous journey across the Mediterranean in the first place.”
MEP Roberta Metsola, the European People’s Party coordinator within the Committee of Civil liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, recently floated the idea of establishing disembarkation locations in safe countries outside the EU, during a debate in the European Parliament.
Dr Metsola said: “It is difficult not to be angry, when we find ourselves in another summer facing a situation that we warned would come – when we know that the European Union can introduce laws on plastics and litter, we can end roaming, even reform agriculture, but when it comes to migration Prime Ministers remain stuck.
“Immigration, asylum, search and rescue are not issues that Malta, Italy, Greece or Spain should be left alone to deal with. They are fundamentally European in nature and countries not in the Mediterranean cannot continue trying to use geography as an excuse to exonerate themselves from responsibility.”
The Nationalist MEP, who is one of the main people in the EPP responsible for the group’s direction on issues like terrorism, migration, security, citizenship and the rule of law, said that the message to EU prime ministers is clear: it is time for action on migration.
“At this month’s summit prime ministers have a unique opportunity to finally reform the EU’s Dublin System, and ensure a fair sharing of responsibility based on solidarity – solidarity between States and with the most vulnerable. We have to have an asylum system that is fair and that addresses security concerns.
It can be done, even without unanimity in the EU Council.
“That is the first step. In the more medium term we need to ensure we think outside the box and look seriously into having EU-run and EU-funded disembarkation locations in safe third countries outside the Union, with EU standards, where anyone saved from the dark sea can be disembarked immediately, security vetted, processed in full recognition of their rights – by EASO for example – and either returned if they are not in need of protection or resettled if they are.”
Dr Metsola added: “Longer term we need to ensure we move from a system of aid to a system of investment in Africa fuelling jobs and growth there – giving people a chance at a future closer to their homes. Europe can be the example to everyone on this issue but we have to see real political will to move away from fiery rhetoric to taking tough decisions. The ball is in the Prime Ministers’ court now. The world is watching.”
Tonio Borg, a former European Commissioner who served as both Home Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister in various Nationalist governments, told The Sunday Times of Malta the idea of opening processing centres in African countries is not a new one. It was tried in the past without success, he pointed out, and remains sceptical about whether such a proposal can work.
“The problem is that any country in Africa which accepts this would be inviting thousands of migrants to enter its territory,” he said, adding that he saw “no possibility of this proposal being taken up by the North African countries such as Libya or Tunisia.”