Friday

2nd Jun 2023

Finnish EU presidency brief broadly offshores migration

  • Partnerships are crucial to stem irregular migration, notes Finnish EU presidency paper (Photo: bundeskanzlerei.de)

A Finnish EU presidency paper on asylum and migration, seen by EUobserver, is demanding the EU secure partnerships across the world to curtail irregular migration.

The eight-page paper, to be discussed among EU interior ministers on Monday (2 December) in Brussels, is meant to feed into the incoming European Commission's plan to kick start a new pact on migration.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"We trust that these discussions will really inspire the new commission while working towards the new pact," an EU diplomat told a group of reporters in Brussels on Thursday.

"Our understanding is that is the intention of the new European Commission," she added.

Described by the EU diplomat as "a back to basics" paper, the report builds on a series of internal discussions held over the past six months.

It notes, among other things, that securing relations and agreements with countries of origin and transit in places like Africa and the Middle East remains crucial.

"These partnerships should be aimed at advancing our political priorities in an efficient, sustainable and coherent manner," notes the paper.

It demands they prevent irregular migration, forced displacement, and boost cooperation on return and readmission.

The whole feeds into promises already made by Margaritis Schinas, the incoming European commissioner dealing with migration.

At his hearing in October, he told MEPs he would drive up returns by first completing internal EU rules on return and then "secondly by concluding readmission agreements and arrangements with priority countries of transit and origin."

The Finnish presidency paper also offers a thematic overview on the wider issues, while pressing for so-called "whole-of-government" and "whole-of-route" approaches to migration.

On deadlocked asylum reforms, it merely demands a return to vague notions of underlying principles.

"What seems to be the key is to have efficient procedures covering all circumstances, including the use of accelerated procedures, across member states," it notes.

Among the most contentious issues is the reform of the Dublin regulation, which determines who is responsible for processing asylum applications.

Although the European Parliament formulated its position on Dublin years ago, member states have failed to reach any internal agreement.

Past EU presidencies have been unable to secure any compromise on the matter amid fears a vote, to unblock the deal, would leave member states even more divided and bitter. It is also why the Finnish EU presidency directed its focus on more thematic areas.

The core issue remains. Countries led by Hungary are outright opposed having Dublin divide up and share the number of people applying for international protection among EU states.

Offshore asylum claims - a German idea

But a non-paper from Germany, also seen by EUobserver, says Dublin under its current form has failed and that initial assessments for international protection should instead be offshored in countries outside the European Union.

"Manifestly unfounded or inadmissible applications shall be denied immediately at the external border, and the applicant must not be allowed to enter the EU," notes the paper.

People travelling from countries deemed safe, like Tunisia, may also be denied.

Furthermore, the paper proposes "restricting freedom of movement" of those applying for protection in a move that could mean camps or detention centres.

The German paper is not a policy proposal. But as a "non-paper", it helps set the tone of discussions on migration. It too will be discussed on Monday by the interior ministers.

Interview

EU Africa envoy: Europe needs to look beyond migration

Europe's obsession with migration from Africa means it risks losing out the continent's potential when it comes to trade, says the EU's ambassador to the African Union, Ranier Sabatucci. "Africa is a growing continent, it is the future," he says.

EU not prepared for 2015 repeat, warns migration chief

The Vienna-based International Centre for Migration Policy Development is predicting possible migration flashpoints in Iran, Libya and South America over the next 12 months. Its director-general Michael Spindelegger says EU states are not prepared for a repeat of 2015.

Opinion

Europe's migration system is broken: Renew has a plan

The failure of successful integration of migrants and refugees granted stay in Europe puts the entire asylum and migration policy at risk. Member states have to step up their integration policies.

Agenda

New commission and Malta in focus This WEEK

Ursula von der Leyen and her new team of commissioners will have their first meeting on Wednesday. In the meantime, Malta descends into political turmoil over the death of an investigative journalist.

Latest News

  1. EU data protection chief launches Frontex investigation
  2. Madrid steps up bid to host EU anti-money laundering hub
  3. How EU leaders should deal with Chinese government repression
  4. MEPs pile on pressure for EU to delay Hungary's presidency
  5. IEA: World 'comfortably' on track for renewables target
  6. Europe's TV union wooing Lavrov for splashy interview
  7. ECB: eurozone home prices could see 'disorderly' fall
  8. Adapting to Southern Europe's 'new normal' — from droughts to floods

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. InformaConnecting Expert Industry-Leaders, Top Suppliers, and Inquiring Buyers all in one space - visit Battery Show Europe.
  2. EFBWWEFBWW and FIEC do not agree to any exemptions to mandatory prior notifications in construction
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us