17/10/2024–|Last updated: 10/17/202402:39 PM (Mecca time)
Leaders of countries convene European Union Today, Thursday, there is a summit in Brussels during which they will discuss tightening immigration policy, only 5 months after adopting a charter on this issue.
The expulsion of irregular migrants is the “missing link” in European migration policy. The Greek Prime Minister said Kyriakos Mitsotakis Upon arriving in Brussels, “we have to think outside the usual patterns.”
European leaders will discuss, in particular, the controversial proposal regarding “return centres”, that is, transferring migrants to reception centers in other countries, as Italy has begun to do under the government. Georgia Meloniwith the transfer of migrants to Albania.
The German Chancellor said Olaf Schultz These centers are “just a drop in the bucket” and do not represent a “solution” for major countries like Germany.
Spain opposes this, while more cautious France calls for “encouraging returns when conditions permit,” “instead of organizing returns to centers in other countries.”
For his part, a European diplomat said that the discussions are “vague and preliminary” and there is no plan regarding these centers, expecting that this summit will not produce “major decisions.”
Movements and pressures
The Italians organized an informal meeting in the presence of Meloni to encourage “these innovative solutions” to confront migration, with the participation of about 10 countries, including the Netherlands, Greece, Austria, Poland and Hungary.
Hungary is governed by a nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán The rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union runs until the end of next December, and will host the next summit on November 8 in Budapest.
Last May, the European Union adopted the Migration and Asylum Charter, which is supposed to enter into force in mid-2026, with increased checks on borders and the establishment of a solidarity mechanism between the 27 countries in processing asylum applications. Countries such as Germany and France are calling for accelerating its implementation.
Immigration issues return to dominate the agenda, with a special push from the far-right parties, which are recording progress in many European countries.
Several governments toughened their tone and called for simplifying the rules in the field of expelling irregular migrants. A European diplomat said, “The Franco-German engine is pushing us to act.”
The President of the European Commission agreed with them Ursula's phone is delayed Opinion on Monday in a letter addressed to the 27 countries, proposed a new law that would review the “Return Directives” issued in 2008, in order to facilitate deportations at the border.
On the other hand, this summit will be held during a transitional phase in Brussels, where the new European Commission team will assume its duties at the beginning of last December.
The other two prominent files on the agenda of the European Summit on Thursday are: the situation in Ukraine, in the presence of the President Volodymyr ZelenskyAnd calling for an end to the escalation in the Middle East.