EU asylum: what to make of the planned reform?
After months of wrangling the EU institutions have agreed on a reform of the asylum system, the result of which will be a tightening in many areas. Arrivals with little chance of being accepted are to be processed at the EU's external border and swiftly deported if their application is rejected. The burden on the main countries of entry such as Italy and Greece is to be relieved by means of a mandatory solidarity mechanism. Europe's press is divided.
Just a first attempt
Because the asylum reform still has gaps it is likely to be exploited by the populists, says Kurier:
“With the asylum package, politicians are endeavouring to find objective solutions: at the European level and without childish border games by individual states. This is only a first attempt, with flaws and gaps. The populists are poised to exploit those flaws. After all, who would want to let the playing field where they have set the rules for so long be taken away from them?”
Deal not worth much
The new asylum pact raises fundamental questions, writes De Volkskrant:
“A total lack of solidarity among members has systematically undermined European asylum policy so far. ... It is therefore a step forward that the member states once again resolved on Wednesday to do things differently and concentrate the entire asylum system on Europe's external borders. At the same time, the deal immediately raises fundamental questions. Firstly, what will happen to the many people who do not register at the external borders and simply continue their journey? ... Secondly: for the umpteenth time, the EU is planning to send people back to their countries of origin without first reaching definitive agreements with these countries. So what is the project worth?”
Moving towards Australian model
Die Welt would like to see measures that go beyond the Common European Asylum System (CEAS):
“The CEAS is just the first step towards a third country solution modelled on the Australian system. There, all refugees are immediately taken to Papua New Guinea, where their asylum application is processed. After the initial difficulties, hardly any refugee boats make their way to Australia nowadays. And this is without Canberra violating the Geneva Convention on Refugees. In return, Australia accepts refugees who are designated as such by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and who are genuinely entitled to asylum. A similar system will be introduced in the EU. Most member states are in favour of this. ... The German government will no doubt also come to its senses.”
Belgium must set things right
Belgium should use its EU Council presidency in the coming six months to steer the debate in a different direction, 17 NGOs write in a joint appeal published by Le Soir:
“Only a fair and positive vision of migration that respects the right to asylum, ensures intra- and extra-European solidarity, distributes asylum seekers fairly between member states and guarantees safe and legal migration channels represents real change and a truly sustainable solution for all. We therefore call on Belgium to use its presidency of the Council of the EU to restart the talks in order to establish a policy based on human rights, solidarity and openness.”
Inhumane isolationism a no-go in the long run
Deník N thinks little of the asylum pact:
“The EU is just buying time by tightening its migration policy. We won't be able to stop migration. If anything, it will intensify over time as droughts hit more and more parts of the world. In the coming decades, millions of Africans may well make the journey to Europe due to water shortages. What will we do then? Seal our borders even tighter and try to forget our humanity? ”