EU-Lebanon refugee deal: why, and why now?
The EU plans to pay one billion euros in aid to Lebanon in exchange for its help in curbing the illegal immigration of Syrians to Europe, in particular via Cyprus. The agreement follows similar deals with Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritania. Commentators criticise the choice of partner and the timing, as well as this type of deal in general.
A declaration of bankruptcy
The Frankfurter Rundschau is appalled:
“Lebanon, as is well known, is a more than fragile crisis state in the government of which the militant Islamist Hezbollah has been pulling the strings for years. And now of all states this state, which Iran - embodied by Hezbollah - to all intents and purposes co-governs, is to become a partner of the European Union (EU) in the effort to fend off refugees. ... In view of the ongoing political chaos in the cedar state, who is supposed to ensure that the promised EU funds don't flow into the coffers of Hezbollah, which fires missiles and grenades at Israel almost daily? Brussels is turning a blind eye to this danger - such a policy is nothing less than a declaration of political bankruptcy.”
Ignoring plight of refugees
Commission President von der Leyen is putting her own political ambitions above the welfare of the refugees, the Tages-Anzeiger criticises:
“Nowhere do Palestinian refugees have as few rights as here, and Syrian refugees have allegedly been repatriated against their will. Estimates put the number of people in Lebanon who have fled the civil war in Syria at 1.5 million. With a total population of 5.5 million, this is a huge burden for the country. In the context of the economic crisis Syrians are increasingly viewed with hostility in Lebanon. Von der Leyen knows this. But with a view to the European elections she is hoping to score points on the migration issue. As far as Italy's right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni is concerned, she's knocking on an open door. And that seems to be her priority right now.”
Von der Leyen's gift to the right
Zeit Online also assesses the deal in the context of the upcoming election campaign:
“Von der Leyen is the lead candidate of the European People's Party. All the polls say the EPP will emerge as the strongest party in the European elections. In order to win the election, she will most likely need the support of parties that are far to the right of the EPP, such as the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the EU Parliament. The strong woman there is Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who stands for a tough stance on migration. The right-wing conservative PiS from Poland is also a member of the ECR. Von der Leyen in the role of Europe's border guard is sure to go down well with the ECR.”
Don't turn the neighbours into bouncers
The EU should focus on other strategies in addition to sealing off borders, says Der Standard:
“Partnerships must be established on an equal footing with the countries of origin in order to facilitate returns and eliminate the causes of mass emigration. An asylum system must be created in which asylum and migration are finally treated separately. And there must be a collaboration with the neighbouring countries which doesn't just turn them into Europe's bouncers but supports them to such an extent that they can offer refugees a dignified life so that they don't want to come to Europe. This is an especially big challenge in chaotic Lebanon with its pronounced hatred of Syrians.”