Gathered at a European summit in Brussels, the Twenty-Seven raised their voice on Thursday October 17 against irregular immigration, by calling “urgently” for a law to accelerate expulsions, following discussions which also highlighted sharp disagreements within the Union.
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“ The European Council calls for decisive action, at all levels, to facilitate, increase and accelerate returns from the European Union », Say the Member States in the summit conclusions. They “invite” the European Commission to quickly submit “a new legislative proposal”.
Previously, the 27 debated at length on “return hubs”, a flammable proposal for the transfer of migrants to reception centers in third countries.
The Italy of Giorgia Meloni, head of government and of the far-right party Fratelli d’Italia, has reached a controversial agreement with Albania, where the first migrants arrested in Italian waters are starting to arrive.
Several European officials have distanced themselves, including French President Emmanuel Macron, “ skeptical », and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. THE ” hubs ” born “ address none of the problems and create new ones », even squeaked the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
On the offensive, the Italians organized an informal meeting around Giorgia Meloni on Thursday morning to promote these “ innovative solutions » against illegal immigration.
Around ten countries were around the table, including the Netherlands, Greece, Austria, Poland and Hungary of nationalist Viktor Orban, where the next European summit will be held in Budapest on November 8.
The Pole Donald Tusk insisted on the migratory pressure suffered by his country. Poland accuses Russia and Belarus of organizing an influx of migrants in an attack hybrid » intended to destabilize the European Union in the middle of the war in Ukraine.
Going against the general tone, the Spaniard Pedro Sanchez called for highlighting the benefits of legal immigration, particularly for work.
Migration issues are coming back to shake up the agenda, pushed in particular by far-right parties, on the rise in many European countries.
“ Irregular migration must be reduced. At the same time, the EU must remain open to skilled labor immigration », pleaded the German Olaf Scholz.
The call for a new law comes as the number of illegal crossings detected at the European Union’s borders fell by 42% over the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to the European Surveillance Agency Frontex borders.
This European summit was held in a transition phase in Brussels, where the new Commission team is expected to take office at the beginning of December.
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