The 27 EU countries call for “decisive action at all levels to facilitate and accelerate returns”. The European Commission is asked to “urgently submit a new draft law”. This was evident from a joint decision at the EU summit on Thursday.
There is a “clear task that we must perform much better, especially when it comes to returns,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer emphasizes. The President of the Commission and all states involved are “highly motivated” that something must be done here. Austria and a group of 18 allies across party lines agreed that the “issue of migration policy should be at the center of European politics,” with issues such as deportations, protection of the external borders and asylum procedures in safe third countries.
In the run-up to the summit, several states – especially Poland – wanted to completely remove the section on migration from the document and only have a “substantial discussion”. Nehammer spoke of a “high degree of solidarity with (Polish Prime Minister, note) Donald Tusk, on the part of the Commission and on the part of the Member States”. Poland wants to temporarily suspend the right to asylum for irregular migrants at the border with Belarus with a new law. “These are hybrid attacks by state actors,” the report said. The European Commission is working with Poland on EU-compliant solutions, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the latest press conference.
“Solidarity with member states that are confronted with this”
“Russia, Belarus or any other country should not be allowed to abuse our values, including the right to asylum, and undermine our democracies,” the summit statement said. In it, the European Council expresses its “solidarity with the Member States facing these challenges”. The Council stressed its “determination to protect the EU’s external borders by all means and in accordance with European and international law”.
In addition to announcing the new proposal for a return directive, Von der Leyen stated during the press conference that the concept of safe third countries would be revised. The partnerships with third countries are working: the number of people entering illegally via the Mediterranean route has fallen by 64 percent.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
