The European Union (EU) announced on Wednesday that they have reached a new migration agreement aimed at overhauling migration and asylum processes as well as costs and regulations. This agreement also seeks to limit the number of individuals entering the EU. The Pact on Migration and Asylum that underpins the agreement features five key proposals to enhance screening regulations, develop a shared database for detecting unauthorized movements, streamline asylum processes, devise a balance mechanism for member states’ responsibilities, and ensure the EU is ready for any future crises.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, stated that the pact would provide an effective European response to this European challenge. Her statement has been met with significant criticism from human rights groups who have drafted an open letter in condemnation of the agreement. According to these groups, the Pact risks creating a poorly functioning, costly, and cruel system that could fail upon implementation and neglect important issues.
Amnesty International echoed these sentiments and expressed concerns over the potential negative impact on the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. They argued that the agreement could set European asylum law back for decades and lead to increased suffering for individuals seeking asylum in the EU.
Migration has been a top issue for EU countries since the 2015 peak migration period, which saw over a million arrivals. Although the numbers have been substantially lower post-2015, they began to escalate following a dip in 2020. This year alone, the EU has seen over 250,000 migrants arrive with the majority of these individuals opting to travel the Mediterranean route. Certain member states have been resistant to host migrants and refugees who arrive in Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy, and Malta. In response to this ongoing crisis, the European Commission put forth a new approach on migration and asylum in 2020 aiming to distribute the responsibility among member states and enhance procedures.
It remains to be seen how the new agreement will be received and whether it will effectively address the complex and ever-evolving migration issue in the EU. The original report on the agreement can be found here.