Sunday

1st Oct 2023

EU Commission's search-and-rescue proposal hits opposition

  • A handful of EU states want to remove search-and-rescue from the EU Commission's 'solidarity' proposals (Photo: Nikolaj Nielsen)
Listen to article

Resistance is emerging among some EU states to proposals on distributing people saved in search-and-rescue operations.

A leaked internal EU document, dated 2 December, reveals opposition from Austria, Estonia, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia.

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

Some of the views are likely to clash with more left-leaning and liberal MEPs, who earlier this year insisted on search-and-rescues remaining a part of the proposals.

The idea was initially proposed by the European Commission in September last year, as part of its pact on migration and asylum.

The commission had asked EU states to use the so-called 'solidarity mechanism' to take in disembarked asylum seekers following search-and-rescue operations.

But Austria argues it would create pull factor - a concept that has been debunked in the past by studies.

"Austria maintains a very critical position towards a special and permanent solidarity mechanism after SAR [search-and-rescue] disembarkations," notes the document.

Estonia, meanwhile, says there is no need for a separate solidarity mechanism in search-and-rescues.

Ireland holds a similar position, noting the distribution of asylum seekers should instead be "linked to an assessment of migratory pressure".

Malta believes the proposal does not go far enough and wants to extend the possibility of relocation for all asylum seekers.

"In our view arrivals following SAR should be the shared responsibility of the Union and not of individual member states," it says.

Meanwhile, Poland opposes the concept too, because it does not want to take in asylum seekers from search-and-rescues.

And the Netherlands is also unhappy.

"The Netherlands is in favour of one single solidarity mechanism and not multiple mechanisms for different situations," notes the document.

That is a position also held by the European Parliament's lead MEP on the file, Swedish centre-right Tomas Tobé.

Although not listed in the document, other EU states such as Hungary are also likely opposed.

The splits and divisions could spell trouble for both co-legislators working on the bill, known as the asylum and migration management regulation.

Tobé's draft proposal was eviscerated in October by fellow lawmakers for carving out search-and-rescues, which are spelled out in articles 47 to 49 of the draft bill.

"For me, I think it was important to make sure that we have one strong mechanism," he had said.

Both EU institutions need to formulate their own unified negotiating mandate before starting any negotiations in a pact that the European Commission still hopes will be adopted.

The SAR issue is linked to vague concepts of solidarity and responsibility, which has in the past crippled efforts to revamp EU migration and asylum rules.

The latest EU asylum overhaul aimed at bridging the political divides that undermined the previous reforms.

"Solidarity and responsibility are the two pillars that guide this package," said European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas last year.

Most lawmakers unhappy with lead MEP's asylum bill

Sweden's centre-right MEP Tomas Tobé is steering the core bill on migration and asylum through the European Parliament. But his draft proposal has been met with resistance from liberal left leaning MEPs, possibly creating another political deadlock.

Opinion

How to break the political deadlock on migration

We propose a mandatory solidarity mechanism that allows for flexible options. Every member state will have to contribute in one way or another - through either relocation, return sponsorship or capacity-building measures, writes EPP rapporteur Tomas Tobé MEP.

Lead MEP wants 'mandatory relocation' in EU asylum law

Spanish centre-left MEP Juan Lopez Aguilar chairs the European Parliament's civil liberties committee and is the lead on the crisis regulation, a bill presented by the EU commission last September as part of its migration and asylum pact.

On board with SOS Méditerranée

The migration 'pull-factor' claim - debunked

Empirical evidence shows rescue operations at sea are not a pull-factor. But that suspicion has underpinned a campaign to criminalise NGO actions. Eight legal cases were launched this year alone, bringing the total caseload to 58.

Opinion

A war on immigration in Europe?

Europe is politically weak because its opponents know that nothing makes the European Council more nervous than a few thousand migrants trying to cross an external EU border. And these opponents, act accordingly. Lukashenko, for example.

EU Ombudsman warns of 'new normal' of crisis decision-making

Emily O'Reilly cited the post-pandemic recovery funds, the windfall taxes on energy companies, and the joint purchase of vaccines, as procedures which received limited scrutiny from the national parliaments — as a result of emergency decision-making powers that bypassed parliament.

Latest News

  1. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  2. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  3. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  4. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  5. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials
  6. Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'
  7. Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling
  8. Germany tightens police checks on Czech and Polish border

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us