Response Brussels
The differences of the member states on immigration remain, but the will of the leaders for unity prevailed and they managed to agree on conclusions on immigration, calling for the acceleration and increase of returns.
As noted, the European Council calls for decisive action at all levels to facilitate, increase and accelerate returns from the European Union, using all relevant EU policies and instruments and tools, such as diplomacy, development, trade and visas. It calls on the Commission to submit a new legislative proposal as a matter of urgency.
In some of the questions that exist in relation to the return centers, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was mentioned, who noted that the discussion on this specific issue concerns another group, “those who do not have the right to stay in the European Union . In this context, the return centers were discussed. There are open questions about how long people can be there or what they do if they cannot return. So, as I said, it’s not trivial and that’s a matter that was discussed.”
Also, as he said, the issue of immigrants in need of protection was also discussed, stressing that “here the discussion is about safe third countries, because we fully recognize and take responsibility for the need for protection. But this does not mean that protection should only be in the EU’, there may also be protection in safe third countries.
Berlin: Irregular immigration = return
During the debate, Poland focused on the instrumentality it faces by asking for understanding on the temporary decisions it has taken to suspend the granting of asylum, making it clear that it will abide by the decision until the situation improves and asking that there be no conclusions in the European Council.
However, as stated by a European source, the anti-European attitude of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Oban cannot be compared with the extraordinary measures taken by the pro-European Donald Tusk.
Both Finland and Malta, as well as Spain, which had faced a similar problem on the border with Morocco in 2021, showed understanding and support to Warsaw.
The issue of secondary flows was brought up again by Germany, which despite the reactions and dissatisfaction expressed both at the working breakfast held by Italy, Austria, Denmark, Cyprus, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary (as Council President) and European Commission ahead of Thursday’s summit and in the European Council debate he insisted he would maintain strict internal border controls.
In addition, Berlin focused on the understanding that irregular migration equals return. The issue of the radicalization of those who do not integrate was raised by Austria, which also advocated investment in third countries.
The issue will be back on the table at both the informal Budapest Summit in November and the regular European Council in December with member states urged to act before it is too late.
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