In Brussels, the Italian request came “loud and clear”, says a European source. Rome asks other EU countries for “compulsory relocation” of migrants rescued at sea. But, despite the clarity of the question, not even this time will there be an immediacy in the answer: it is unlikely that the European Union will make decisions in this regard by the end of the year. “It is not the mission of the German presidency” on duty until December, we learn from European sources.
Today Charles Michel is equally clear on the subject. In an interview with Ansa and five other international media, the president of the European Council stresses that “compulsory relocations” of migrants “are not the alpha and omega of the discussion on migration. We need a rational approach ”to the issue, he says,“ starting with some initiatives that can help us ease the political intensity on difficult topics ”, such as relocations. “I do not know the contents” of the European Commission’s proposal on the Pact for Migration, the presentation of which has been “postponed several times, and I believe for good reasons”, says Michel. “But I think moving forward ‘logically’ is the best approach. With greater “protection of the external borders, the pressure on the political debate on relocation will be reduced – he highlights -. But also through a strengthening of collaboration with third countries ”, and work for“ greater convergence on asylum policy ”.
The von der Leyen Commission is expected to present its immigration package at the end of September, after the postponements imposed by the covid also on the much-announced reform of the Dublin regulation, which obliges first-landing countries to give asylum to those who arrive. But in Brussels there is no climate of anticipation on this issue. The internal affairs ministers will discuss it in October, but we are far from a decision.
With the pandemic, all the work on measures to counter the economic crisis that is affecting Italy and the other countries most affected by the virus has taken over and has somehow become the cornerstone of the German presidency, with Angela Merkel engaged in the front row in the role of mediation between EU countries on anti-crisis packages. No room for immigration, which obviously remains a complicated issue in relations between the countries of the Union.
Hungary, to say, is threatening not to approve in its national Parliament the part reserved for its own resources (digital tax, carbon tax, etc.) of the EU budget linked to the recovery fund. Viktor Orban thus tries to block the European Parliament’s request to tighten the conditionalities that link the disbursement of European funds to respect for the rule of law. This frame is enough to understand how difficult – if not impossible – it is to ask someone like Orban to welcome migrants who have arrived in Italy.
But Budapest is just one example. The other states are no exception. As we know, the EU has never abounded in solidarity in matters of immigration. And this time too, the Italian request for compulsory relocations seems destined to remain at stake. While it appears out of time, according to EU sources, the idea of Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese to link the disbursement of the ‘Next generation Eu’ funds to the willingness to accept: the conditions of the package have already been negotiated in July, in a European council lasted 5 days and 4 nights.
–
