The recent EU summit placed migration at the forefront of discussions, driven by pressure from the rise of right-wing populists across member states. A key proposal from EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggests more effective deportations, with a focus on improving the mutual recognition of expulsion orders among EU nations. The summit debated the controversial idea of establishing deportation centers in third countries, a plan pioneered by Italy in collaboration with Albania. Critics, including human rights organizations, express concerns over potential violations of EU standards in such centers.
Germany's recent unilateral border control actions have further fueled the debate, prompting calls from nations like Poland and Greece to end these measures. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government advocates for a swift implementation of the Common European Asylum System reform, which facilitates processing asylum applications at external borders.
While some member states propose opting out of EU migration agreements, others, like Spain, show support for von der Leyen's strategies. The summit highlighted the complex and often divisive nature of migration policies within the EU, with discussions continuing on how best to handle the challenges of irregular migration and asylum seeker management.
