Historic decision: EU countries agree on migration

After years of negotiations, the EU’s member states agree on a common asylum and migration policy, TT reports.
– Thank you for working so hard, says Swedish meeting leader Maria Malmer Stenergard after many long hours in Luxembourg.

For almost three years, the EU’s interior commissioner Ylva Johansson has tried to get a hearing for the big asylum and migration pact that she put forward in 2020. And before that, it was the representative Dimitris Avramopoulos who tried with similar proposals since the spring of 2016.

But now she’s almost there. During the Swedish presidency of the EU’s Council of Ministers, at least the EU countries have finally been able to put down their views on how migration should be managed – in that case, a purely historic settlement, given the great disagreement that has prevailed for several years.

– Everyone has their unique national situation and I have great respect for that. The migration issue is difficult in many member states. But the proposal that is now on the table should be something that the member states can get behind, said Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) on her way to the decisive ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.

No from the east

However, it was not simple. The first attempt on Thursday morning did not succeed as expected, but was followed by several hours of new compromise attempts.

Among the opponents are above all countries such as Poland and Hungary.

– We cannot support any step that will serve as an invitation to come to the EU, says Hungarian State Secretary Bence Rétvári.

Among the followers are large countries such as Germany and France and other countries in Western Europe.

– Reaching a settlement is in itself a great success. It’s time now. The time is today, says Belgian Migration Minister Nicole De Moor.

Buy yourself free?

The compromise for which support is sought continues to mean that asylum and migration management must primarily take place in the EU country where the new arrivals first arrive. But all other countries also promise to help when the situation is tough, either with redistribution or personnel or equipment or pure money.

The equivalent of a quarter of a million kroner per person is the sum being discussed for the countries that want to “buy themselves free” from taking care of new arrivals.

A key role is played by Italy, which is pressured by a large number of new arrivals and for years demanded even greater help from the rest of the EU. The cooperation with Tunisia, which earlier this week was visited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is also important.

On Sunday, Meloni will also go back to Tunisia, then in the company of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

“Strong message”

Among other things, Italy is pushing for it to be easier to send migrants without asylum grounds back to countries they departed from, rather than to their countries of origin.

Only after an extra evening meal was Maria Malmer Stenergard – not entirely without nervousness – able to count in enough support for a yes.

– I wasn’t sure that this day would come, she then explains in an emotional speech to her ministerial colleagues.

– We send a strong message when we unite and make decisions that are not easy, but necessary. Thank you for working so hard and being so constructive and willing to make sacrifices, says Malmer Stenergard in Luxembourg.

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