Adopted this Wednesday by the European Parliament, the pact on migration and asylum has caused some dissension in Macronie, particularly after the latest declarations by the head of the Renaissance list in the next European elections, Valérie Hayer.
A close vote. On Wednesday April 10, 2024, the pact on migration and asylum was adopted with forceps by the European Parliament. Particularly for the two most sensitive texts of the Pact: the regulation on the asylum procedure (APR), adopted by 301 votes for, 269 against and 51 abstentions, then the so-called “crisis” regulation adopted by 301 votes for, 272 against and 46 abstentions. From now on, the text will have to be formally validated by the Council of the European Union, before coming into force in 2026.
The text based on a proposal from the Commission in September 2020 provides in particular for reinforced border controls, a compulsory “filtering” system prior to the entry of a migrant into the European Union, greater solidarity from Member States to welcome refugees and, finally, a specific mechanism in the event of a migration crisis which notably echoes the massive influx of Syrian refugees in 2015. It will make it possible to extend the possible duration of detention of a migrant at the external borders of the EU up to nine months compared to six currently.
Finding a balance between border control and solidarity
Presented on September 23, 2020 by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the main objective of the European pact on asylum and migration is to fundamentally reform continental migration policy after the 2015 migration crisis. the subject of intense negotiations of the Twenty-seven, whose positions are sometimes diametrically opposed. But two months before the European election, the representatives of the States and the European Parliament seem to have managed to find an agreement, which should make it possible to consider a definitive adoption.
This pact is based on three pillars. First, accelerated management at the borders with “new procedures to quickly establish the status of a person upon arrival”. A migrant must know, within five days, whether he can stay in Europe or leave. Then, strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit to limit arrivals and fight against smuggling networks and the migrant train. Finally, the establishment of a new, more flexible solidarity mechanism. In other words, each country will have to contribute to solidarity, but in a less restrictive way. Relocations (today compulsory) will switch to a voluntary system.
However, the text is the result of a difficult compromise. Supported overall by the three main European political families: EPP (right), the Socialists and the Democrats, it also does not fail to trigger the hostility of a large part of the extreme right, as well as the Environmentalists. and the radical left, even some socialists. Divergences seen as far away as Macronie.
Macronie divided after the declarations of Valérie Hayer
A “firm” and “humane” response to the migratory challenge. This is how the migration pact was presented by Valérie Hayer, head of the presidential majority list in the next European elections, Monday April 8, 2024 during her debate with Marion Maréchal Le Pen on CNews, who will lead the Reconquest list on June 9.
During her debate with Marion Maréchal Le Pen, Renaissance candidate Valérie Hayer took the side of defending the “border control” aspect of the pact on migration and asylum. A position which does not seem to have really convinced internally. “These media talk about immigration all the time. We might as well try to bring something other than the fantasies and caricatures constantly developed by the RN and Reconquest!” regrets Loïc Signor, spokesperson for Renaissance in the columns of Le Monde.
In Édouard Philippe’s camp, the trend, or at least the wish, would be for a tightening of the migration aspect in the immigration pact by requesting the inclusion of “financial support by the European Union for national immigration control infrastructures”. borders. A provision included in the manifesto of Horizons, the party created and chaired by Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre, on October 9, 2021. The subsidy by Brussels of fences at Europe’s borders is notably one of the party’s desires.
“Georgia Meloni supports the pact”
On the opposition side, Valérie Hayer’s words triggered the red alert. She “wants to do at European level what was done Macron in France: embark on a chase with the extreme right” launches the head of the EELV list, Marie Toussaint, for the moment credited with 5.5% of voting intentions according to the latest Ifop-Fiducial poll for Le Figaro, and Sud Radio, published on April 9. Finally, during the debate with Marion Maréchal Le Pen this Monday on CNews, Valérie Hayer also underlined Renew’s agreement with part of the European extreme right on the subject of the pact: “Georgia Meloni supports the asylum and immigration pact that we will vote on Wednesday” in an attempt to destabilize Marion Maréchal Le Pen, who was opposed to it.