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With its new migration pact, the EU Commission wants to end the long-standing dispute between member states. But what is on paper? And will that appease critics, especially in Eastern Europe?
Procedure at the border
Before a migrant enters the country, according to the Commission, the affected state must carry out a preliminary control at the border in the future, much more extensive than before: the migrant is registered, fingerprints are taken and health checks are carried out and security.
If the asylum seekers come from a country with a low recognition rate, like Tunisia or Morocco, for example, there should be an expedited border processing within twelve weeks. For all others, a “normal” procedure applies. During the procedure, the EU Commission does not rule out the possibility of migrants being held in closed camps.
Redistribution within the EU
There should be no mandatory redistribution of asylum seekers according to quotas to all EU countries. This idea had divided the EU states in recent years and the EU Commission apparently found it unenforceable.
Instead of mandatory reassignments, the Commission has developed a multi-level system. There should be financial incentives: if countries host refugees from other member states, they should receive € 10,000 per person from the EU budget. For minors it is 12,000 euros.
In normal times, EU states can help each other on a voluntary basis. However, if a country is under pressure, it can activate the so-called mandatory solidarity mechanism. The EU Commission would then check whether and how many people have to be removed from the country.
All other countries would have to offer help: either accept migrants with the prospect of protected status. Or it helps in other ways, for example with migration management or through so-called “deportation sponsorships.”
“Deportation sponsorships”
An EU country takes responsibility for the return of a certain number of rejected asylum seekers in another country. At best, countries should use their good diplomatic relations with certain third countries.
The EU wants to further intensify negotiations with countries of origin and transit so that they can accept rejected asylum seekers. According to the EU, around two thirds of asylum applications are rejected, but only one third of those affected are actually deported. The Commission also wants to appoint a “return coordinator” and give more support to Member States in case of deportations through the border protection agency Frontex.
Dublin procedure
The EU Commission is basically adhering to the existing Dublin rules, but is adapting them. Today, that EU state is responsible for an asylum application on whose soil the person seeking protection entered European soil for the first time. That puts excessive pressure on countries like Italy, Greece and Spain. The EU Commission wants to ensure that other criteria also play an important role.
Anyone who has siblings in another country, has studied or worked there before, must come. The same applies if an asylum seeker has previously legally traveled to an EU country on a visa. And something should also be done against moving to other EU countries. Germany, which is one of the main target countries here, campaigned for this.
Maritime rescue
In this case, the Commission initially relies on voluntary commitments from the Member States. Brussels also wants to issue recommendations for better cooperation between Member States and non-governmental organizations in salvage at sea. It wants to make sure that the fundamental and human rights of immigrants are not violated at the EU’s external border. Among other things, Frontex should monitor this.
