European Union leaders met in Brussels to discuss tightening borders and making the EU a less attractive destination for migrants and asylum seekers. The recent surge in support for the extreme right has fueled opposition to foreigners, leading to a shift in the mood among EU leaders. Poland’s proposal to suspend the right to asylum temporarily due to concerns about Russia and Belarus pushing migrants as a form of hybrid warfare was supported by the EU leaders. Plans to expedite initiatives to remove migrants not eligible to stay and process asylum applications outside the EU were discussed to establish a reputation as a “Fortress Europe.”
The sentiment among EU leaders reflects a shift from the approach during the 2015 migration crisis when over a million migrants and refugees sought help in Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s famous statement that “We can manage that” is contrasted with the current acknowledgment that the numbers are too high and there is a need to return those who do not qualify for protection in Europe. The Danish Prime Minister and Dutch Prime Minister highlighted the changing mood in Europe with a majority of leaders supporting the view that restrictions on migration are necessary to manage the situation.
Member states are now focused on managing and sealing off their borders more tightly, with Italy, Germany, and Poland implementing measures in the same direction. The recent surge of extreme right-wing parties in EU parliamentary elections has amplified the focus on migration as a trigger issue for leaders. Efforts to establish rules for handling unauthorized entry, screening, protection qualification, and deportation of migrants are being expedited, however, some countries like Hungary and Poland have rejected burden-sharing mechanisms.
While around 3.5 million migrants arrived legally in Europe in 2023, about 1 million were present without permission. The political success of populist and hard-right parties in advocating for stricter migration policies has put pressure on leaders like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The need to reduce irregular migration was emphasized at the summit, but Scholz also highlighted the importance of allowing skilled migration to counter an aging population and boost the economy. Innovative solutions, such as outsourcing asylum applications to countries like Albania or Uganda, were discussed as potential strategies to manage migration flows.
Despite the unity among EU leaders in recognizing the need for tighter border controls and stricter migration policies, deep divisions persist on how to handle migrants arriving irregularly and how to share the burden of dealing with them. Joint action on migration policy is likely to take many months to materialize due to these internal divisions within the EU. The complex issue of migration management continues to be a key challenge for the European Union, with efforts ongoing to find solutions that balance security concerns with humanitarian values.
