The EU interior ministers met in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the common asylum policy in view of the high number of immigrants. Austria and six other Schengen countries expressed concern about migrants moving on. They accuse Giorgia Meloni’s Italian government of unilaterally withdrawing from the Dublin Agreement. In a joint statement, they called for “effective containment of uncontrolled migration movements”.
The declaration was signed by Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland ahead of the Council of Interior Ministers. According to the Dublin system, the country of first reception would be responsible for asylum procedures. In practice, however, the system has not worked sufficiently in the EU. “The implementation of the Dublin rules has become increasingly complex and consequently inefficient in practice, especially against the background of increased arrivals into the Schengen area via all routes, as well as challenges in the asylum systems of some Dublin countries,” the statement said.
“It’s the law and you’re actually obliged to take it back,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) with regard to the Dublin agreement. Such states must “be aware of their responsibility,” she emphasized, without explicitly naming Italy. According to media reports, Greece also only takes back a fraction of the migrants applied for. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin was clearer: the Dublin Agreement “virtually no longer works in some countries, especially in Italy,” he said in Brussels. These states would have declared the system “dead”.
It is about a more robust external border protection and its technical and financial support, said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) before the meeting. Legal options would also have to be found in order to be able to carry out faster procedures. Karner called for speed in implementing the summit decision.
“As you can see, this topic never moves fast enough if you look at the tragic events in Italy,” said Karner, referring to the recent boat accident in the Mediterranean that killed dozens. “Action is now required,” emphasized the interior minister. According to Karner, the debate in Great Britain about the tightened asylum policy shows that the pressure on illegal migration and asylum abuse is increasing. Readmission agreements and repatriations should also be put more on the agenda.
Last year, almost a million asylum applications were made in the EU, Switzerland and Norway – more than at any time since 2016. A special summit of heads of state and government in February therefore agreed, among other things, that the external borders should be better protected and rejected asylum seekers should be deported more consistently.
As a speedy measure, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced two pilot projects after the summit: one to protect the border between Bulgaria and the non-EU country Turkey and one to register migrants, a fast asylum procedure and to Repatriations directly at the external border.
The boat accident with more than 70 dead migrants off the coast of southern Italy at the end of February and sea rescue in general should also be discussed at the meeting in Brussels. In addition, the common visa policy towards third countries is to be discussed. No concrete decisions are planned.
Theresa Bielowski, SPÖ-EU MP, calls for a joint and pragmatic approach via broadcast. “The objectification of the debate and solidarity in the implementation of joint solutions would be the key that fits into the lock of a completely derailed debate.”
“The whole ‘hic-hack’ surrounding the Schengen discussion and the long-dead Dublin law as well as the mutual recriminations are just further proof that there is no viable solution for the failed European asylum system in sight,” said FPÖ- Safety spokesman Hannes Amesbauer.
According to Agerpres, Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode reiterated the goal of Romania joining the Schengen area in 2023. She said her country’s accession would increase the security of the EU’s external borders. Austria vetoed the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania in December because of illegal migration.