European Union lawmakers have approved a major revamp of the bloc’s migration laws in an effort to end years of division over managing the entry of unauthorized migrants and to prevent the far right from using this issue as a campaign platform in upcoming elections. The reforms address issues such as responsibility for migrants upon arrival and whether other EU countries should be obligated to assist. The 27 EU member countries will need to endorse the reform package before it can take effect, possibly in a vote in late April.
The plan comes after a surge of more than 1.3 million people, primarily from war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq, sought refuge in Europe in 2015. This overloaded the EU’s asylum system, overwhelmed reception centers in countries like Greece and Italy, and led to the construction of barriers in other EU countries to prevent further entries. The new rules include controversial measures such as collecting facial images and fingerprints from children as young as 6 and allowing for the detention of individuals during screening. Fast-track deportation could also be utilized for those not permitted to stay.
While some lawmakers have hailed the reform package as a success in addressing a deep division within Europe, others are critical of the new regulations. Dutch and Swedish lawmakers who contributed to various parts of the new policies expressed reservations about supporting the entire pact. Concerns have been raised about the pact potentially undermining the individual right to seek asylum due to plans to process migrants abroad, with Italy having already concluded such agreements with countries like Albania.
Migrant and human rights organizations have largely criticized the reform package, pointing out what they see as shortcomings in Europe’s approach to asylum and migration. The pact has been accused of failing to offer sustainable solutions for those seeking safety at Europe’s borders and may increase the risk of human rights violations across the continent, including illegal pushbacks, arbitrary detention, and discriminatory policing. However, there is some hope for refugees as part of the reforms focus on the resettlement of migrants from outside the EU.
Mainstream political parties sought to secure agreement on the pact prior to upcoming European-wide elections, where migration is expected to be a key campaign issue. They hope that the reforms will address concerns about migration that have often played into the hands of far-right parties. However, voices from nationalist parties like Poland’s Law and Justice party have criticized the pact, calling for a different approach to EU migration policy. The outcome of the member countries’ endorsement of the regulations and the enforcement by the European Commission remains uncertain.
The challenge moving forward will be to see if the member countries fully implement the new regulations and if the European Commission will enforce them. Previous political crises within the EU have led to avoidance of strict enforcement, casting doubt on the full implementation of the new rules. As concerns over migration continue to influence policies and politics in Europe, the success of the reform package in addressing key issues remains to be seen.
