Brussels opens to offer ‘legal routes’ of entry into EU, but defends ‘return’ of migrants

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenargued this Friday from Granada to continue offering “legal routes” of access to the European Union and ensuring “humanitarian corridors”, while strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit to control irregular flows, but has also defended the need to be firm with “returns” of migrants “not eligible” for international protection.

The head of the Commission has assured that the European Union will always respect its international obligations, but that it must be the bloc ‘and not the mafia or human traffickers‘Those who decide who can reach the community area and under what conditions.

“One thing must be very clear: we have international obligations that we are going to fulfill, we have fulfilled them in the past and we are doing so now, but we as Europeans will decide who comes to Europe and under what circumstances, and not the mafia or the traffickers,” Von warned. der Leyen upon arrival at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Granada.

The head of the Community Executive has expressed confidence in the “very high probability” that the European Union will be able to complete immigration and asylum reform before the end of the European legislature in June next year, now that the 27 are in place succeeded in determining their position. on all parts of the Migration Pact and thus unblocked negotiations with the European Parliament. “I am confident that I will reach the finish line,” said the German politician.

The leaders of the European Union are trying to adopt this Friday a ‘Granada Declaration’ that will identify the keys to the future common strategic agenda and mark the beginning of reflection on the path towards a new EU enlargement, but the references to the Migration Pact reservations make their adoption difficult, especially in Budapest and Warsaw.