European Union (EU) leaders on Thursday, the 17th of October, backed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s proposal to temporarily ban asylum for migrants arriving from Russia or Belarus, warning Moscow not to use migrant flows to destabilise European countries and called on the European Commission to urgently draft a law, reports Politico.
Tusk announced last week that Poland would temporarily suspend granting asylum to migrants arriving from Belarus, saying it was a Russian “hybrid war” tactic aimed at destabilising the country.
“Russia and Belarus, or any other country, must not be allowed to abuse our values, including the right to asylum, and undermine our democracy,” said a statement issued by EU leaders after the Brussels meeting.
“Exceptional situations call for appropriate measures,” the statement stressed.
Tusk wanted the EU to support the idea that member states can justify suspending asylum rights on individual security grounds, and he got it.
“I have just returned from a meeting with the most important leaders and what I wanted to achieve, I achieved,” Tusk told reporters.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed the EU leaders’ discussion as a “more realistic and more honest” conversation on migrants and asylum seekers, an EU diplomat familiar with the private talks said.
“We need a strategic discussion,” Frederiksen reportedly said.
Reflecting a stronger stance by EU leaders on migration, the final statement also called for “determined action at all levels to facilitate, increase and accelerate the return of migrants from the EU, using all relevant EU policies, instruments and means, including diplomacy, development, trade and visas”.
Diplomats now expect the European Commission to develop legislation
to facilitate deportations, establish a legal framework for processing centres outside the EU and allow Member States to close external borders for security reasons.
Last year, of the 484 000 non-EU citizens ordered to leave the EU, only 20% returned home. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission is working to improve this figure and will soon present legislation to address it.
Von der Leyen faced sharp questions about the legality and feasibility of the proposed migration solutions. In response, she stressed that in order to justify the suspension of asylum rights, the country behind the “hybrid attack” must be clearly identified.
Asked about the ethical considerations of migrant processing centres, the EU leader replied that there were “open questions” about how such centres could operate.
The final statement made no mention of EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact, another victory for Tusk, who opposed its implementation in the face of criticism from several countries, including Poland.
Also read: UN refugee chief urges countries to abandon border controls even if refugee crisis worsens
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Source link : https://bnn-news.com/poland-wins-as-eu-backs-its-proposed-asylum-ban-for-migrants-from-russia-and-belarus-261718
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Publish date : 2024-10-18 06:34:00
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