The European Union is introducing a new set of rules on how its 27 member states will handle irregular migration and asylum seekers. The European Migration and Asylum Pact completes years of intense negotiations aimed at revamping the previous system, deemed ineffective and criticized by far-right parties to gain voter support.
The implementation of these rules is slated for Friday. Member states have been preparing by adjusting laws, training personnel, and enhancing border infrastructure. Despite these efforts, the European Commission admits no country is fully prepared. Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Migration, sees the pact as a significant step forward, acknowledging it as a beginning.
Screening and Border Procedures
Under new regulations, foreign nationals will face up to seven days of screening at EU borders. Hans Leijtens, executive director of Frontex, highlights that the pact unifies 27 different approaches into a single procedure.
For asylum seekers considered security threats or from nations labeled as ‘safe’ by the EU, faster procedures will be available, processing applications in three months rather than six. Some individuals may be detained at borders during case evaluations, and there will be only one chance to appeal a rejected application.
The European Commission notes the need for implementing a biometric database, Eurodac, to store information on people, including children as young as six. Several countries require additional border facilities to facilitate screening, processing, and detention. Independent rights monitoring at borders also needs to be established.
Return of Rejected Asylum Seekers
A core aspect of the pact is the acceleration of voluntary and forced returns of rejected applicants. Automatic issuance of return orders is a political focus for center-right and far-right parties who have gained power. Countries deemed safe, like Syria and Bangladesh, are destinations for returnees.
As of March, the European Agency for Asylum reported around 802,000 first-time asylum applications pending. EU lawmakers are cooperating with member states in creating ‘return hubs’ in third countries for sending rejected applicants who cannot be repatriated. Concerns persist about planned deportation centers being negotiated discreetly.
Shared Responsibility
A contentious point among EU countries was the sharing responsibility for asylum seekers, particularly during crisis situations. Migrants are required to apply for asylum in the first EU nation they enter. Mediterranean countries like Greece and Italy have struggled with irregular arrivals, leading them to allow migrants’ passage to northern countries, where asylum applications have surged, straining local systems.
The pact introduces a solidarity mechanism requiring other EU nations to take in asylum seekers or provide financial aid to border countries. Members can offset their share if migrants move from one EU country to another. Not all countries agree with the solution. Poland has suspended the right to asylum due to migration pressures on its border with Belarus. Hungary’s prime minister, Péter Magyar, maintains hard-line immigration policies, refusing migrant acceptance.
Gradual Implementation
The commission admits the pact’s implementation requires continued work beyond June 12. Susan Fratzke of the Migration Policy Institute warns of prolonged adoption processes. Susanna Zanfrini of the International Rescue Committee in Italy remarks the lack of clarity affects both asylum seekers and supportive organizations by creating uncertainties.
Human Rights Concerns
Critics claim the new rules curb asylum rights with expedited procedures. Concerns about racial profiling and denial of protection to deserving applicants are voiced, alongside predictions of increased detention duration at borders.
Judith Sunderland from Human Rights Watch argues the pact undermines dignified treatment and fair hearings for those seeking protection. Lukas Gehrke of the International Organization For Migration urges the EU to increase funding for integration programs for individuals allowed to remain in the bloc.
Hadjicostis reported from Nicosia, Cyprus, and Brito from Barcelona, Spain. Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to the report.