(AFP): In a collective effort to bolster the European Union’s asylum policy, fifteen member states have called for measures facilitating the transfer of undocumented migrants to third countries, including those rescued at sea. The demand was articulated in a letter addressed to the European Commission, underscoring the urgency to address irregular migration to Europe.
The coalition, comprising nations such as Italy and Greece, destinations for many embarking on perilous journeys across the Mediterranean, seeks to fortify the recently adopted asylum pact. This pact aims to impose stricter controls on individuals attempting to enter the EU, with provisions for accelerated vetting processes, establishment of border detention centers, and expedited deportations for unsuccessful asylum applicants.
Central to the proposal is the implementation of mechanisms for the detection, interception, and rescue of migrants at sea, followed by their transfer to designated safe havens in partner countries outside the EU. The signatories emphasize the need for streamlined procedures to relocate asylum seekers to third countries while their protection claims are under evaluation.
Drawing on examples like Italy’s agreement with non-EU Albania, which enables the transfer of asylum seekers to holding centers until their cases are adjudicated, the coalition advocates for a reassessment of the concept of “safe third countries” within EU asylum law.
While EU regulations permit the transfer of individuals without documentation to third countries where they could have sought asylum, stringent criteria, including the safety of the destination and the applicant’s genuine connection to it, are mandated. This excludes initiatives such as the UK’s controversial legislation, which denies irregular arrivals the right to seek asylum and redirects them to countries like Rwanda.
The coalition urges the EU to negotiate agreements with third countries along major migration routes, drawing parallels with previous arrangements, such as the EU-Turkey agreement of 2016 aimed at resettling Syrian refugees.
The letter, endorsed by Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania, underscores a significant push for a comprehensive overhaul of the EU’s asylum framework. Notably absent from the signatories is Hungary, reflecting Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s resistance to EU initiatives aimed at distributing asylum responsibilities across member states.
