Finally, the counter-summit on migration convened by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloniearly this Thursday morning, just before the start of the European Council in Brussels, had less participation than expected. In addition to the two other organizers (Netherlands and Denmark), the heads of government of eight other countries: Austria, Poland, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus and Czech Republic. Also present was the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenwhich ratified the toughening of the immigration policy demanded by these countries.
Meloni and his allies demanded “innovative solutions” aimed at facilitating the expulsion of irregular immigrants, as well as “stricter” European legislation on immigration, according to the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoofat the end of the meeting. The term “innovative solutions” is the new euphemism used by these countries to designate the creation of migrant detention centers outside the European Union, copying Meloni’s model of Italy’s agreement with Albania.
Indeed, the Italian Prime Minister took advantage of the mini-summit to explain to his colleagues his agreement with Albania after the arrival of the first irregular migrants at the port of Shengjin, affirming that it contributes to fight against human traffickers. The debate between the 11 leaders focused on how to expand the list of countries considered safe for the return of migrants (several of them want to add Syria and Afghanistan), as well as on the deportation centers outside the EU, as reported by the government of Rome.
Although he was invited, the German chancellor, the socialist Olaf Scholzrefused to participate in the Meloni counter-summit and expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these immigration detention centers. “If you look at the numbers, it’s clear that these types of concepts are just a small drop (in the ocean), This is not really the solution for a country as big as Germany“, declared Scholz upon his arrival at the European Council.
Centers for Albanian migrants have a maximum capacity of 3,000 people, while Germany received 300,000 asylum seekers last year, he noted. In any case, the chancellor – who has considerably toughened his tone after the latest attacks in Germany and the rise of the far right in the regional elections – insisted on the fact that we must “reduce irregular immigration” and increase the effectiveness of evictions. “Criminals must be sent back. Immigration must be made possible, protection must be given to those who need it, but not everyone can come,” he said.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sanchezwho belongs to the same political family as Scholz, had previously been removed from Meloni’s counter-summit because he rejected his “innovative solutions” against immigration. Sánchez avoided speaking to the press to explain his decision. Its position within the EU is almost lonely: only Portugal or Belgium support it. Even if the French president, Emmanuel Macronalso did not attend the meeting of Meloni, his new prime minister, Michel Barnieralso supports a hard line against migration.
Image of the counter-summit on migration held this Thursday in Brussels
The Danish Prime Minister, also a socialist Mette Frederiksendeclared herself “very satisfied” that more and more Member States are supporting the hard line against immigration that she has always defended. “No one thinks that people run away to have fun, and we have many wars and conflicts. But we cannot continue to attract so many people to Europe,” Frederiksen said.
She and the leaders of the Baltic countries expressed their support for the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tuskof the European People’s Party, who announced the suspension of the right to asylum due to the attacks his country is suffering due to the fact that Russia and Belarus are using migrants as weapons.
“It is not a question of suspending the right to asylum, but rather of temporarily and territorially suspending the acceptance of requests in the event of illegal passage, by force, on the border between Poland and Belarus. And everyone here understands that,” Tusk said upon his arrival at the European Council.
The Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpoalthough he did not participate in the Meloni mini-summit, defended that Europe must “strengthen the security of its borders by building infrastructure such as border fences”. “We need European legislation against migratory exploitation,” he said, referring to the cases of Russia and Belarus.
President Pedro Sánchez speaks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz during Thursday’s European Council in Brussels
“EU migration policy faces a paradigm shift. We have been fighting for this for a long time with our partners. In recent years, Austria has made a significant contribution to putting this issue on the European agenda. What we demanded a few years ago, often alone, has now reached European public opinion and the political center,” said the Austrian Chancellor. Karl Nehammer.
For his part, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakisalso pointed out that more and more countries support a “tough” but “fair” immigration policy. “The Pact on Migration and Asylum does not address the issue of returns. We cannot accept the fact that we are not effective in dealing with those who are not entitled to protection status. EU,” insisted Mitsotakis.
