EU Preparing to Adopt Stricter Approach Towards Illegal Immigration
The European Union President, Ursula von der Leyen, is suggesting the establishment of more agreements with non-EU countries to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the bloc.
The European Union’s executive arm, the European Commission, is preparing to introduce new measures to strengthen its position on illegal immigration, in response to mounting pressure from governments across the bloc. Illegal immigration has emerged as a significant political and security concern in several EU countries.
Prior to an upcoming summit in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed EU leaders gathered to discuss potential measures to expel illegal immigrants. She emphasized that the European Commission, in the upcoming mandate, will remain committed to taking a “fair and firm” stance on migration, highlighting the widespread opinion that it is a pressing European challenge. The new commission term is expected to commence on December 1.
Von der Leyen proposed the formation of additional agreements with non-EU countries, which serve as the origin or transit points for illegal immigrants, to intercept them at those locations. She also suggested the establishment of “return hubs” in non-EU countries, such as Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali, to accommodate individuals who do not have the right to remain in the EU.
She wrote in a letter, “We should explore potential strategies regarding the concept of developing return hubs outside the EU, particularly in light of a forthcoming legislative proposal on returns.”
Regarding Italy’s agreement with Albania in November 2023, Von der Leyen cited it as a model. Under the deal, Italy has the authority to transfer up to 36,000 illegal immigrants to reception centers in Albania. The initial group of illegal immigrants arrived on October 16 via an Italian naval ship, marking the first such agreement involving an EU member state.
During the summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz anticipated disagreements among member states concerning immigration issues. Other leaders expressed the need to collectively address how to restrict the flow of asylum seekers and facilitate returns.
Poland and Baltic countries at the summit advocated for a unified EU stance against Russia and Belarus, which are allegedly using immigration as a weapon against the EU. EU officials have accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, with support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, of deploying illegal immigrants as part of a “hybrid attack” in response to EU sanctions.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently announced the suspension of asylum rights to safeguard Warsaw’s security and resist EU immigration policies that pose a threat.
Statistics from the European Commission indicate that around 8,000 illegal immigrants have entered from Belarus this year, with border guards preventing approximately 28,000 attempted crossings.
In July, Finland suspended asylum rights after illegal immigrants crossed the border from Russia. In 2023, a total of 1.27 million individuals were identified as illegally present in EU countries, representing a 13% increase from the previous year.
The Pact on Migration and Asylum, which has been in effect since June, aims to reform EU immigration policies by redistributing the responsibility for hosting asylum seekers among member states and restricting entry into the EU.
Immigration policies have sparked significant unrest within the European Union, leading to a political shift to the right in some countries. Sweden, Germany, Austria, and France have implemented stricter border controls in response to the challenges posed by illegal immigration.
Notably, the German government recently initiated a six-month nationwide border control measure to address illegal immigration and extremist threats, temporarily suspending the freedom of travel within the Schengen zone.
These decisions follow the rise of the anti-immigration populist party Alternative for Germany, which has gained prominence in eastern German state elections.
