There is no doubt that one of today’s biggest challenges for Europe is illegal migration. Every year, thousands of people from third countries enter Europe without permission. Without a tougher and more consistent return policy – and faster rejection of unfounded applications – Europe will not regain control.
If we fail, Europe will continue to lose control of its borders, and democratic parties will lose what trust citizens still have. What is at stake is nothing less than the rule of law and the safety of our people – the basic pillars of every free society.
Socialists Endangering Security
The good news is that many countries understand this. A few days ago, the Italian government approved measures against illegal migration. In particular, it adopted the option of a naval blockade against boats carrying migrants in cases of a serious threat to public order or national security. Now we must hope this measure is actually implemented.
My political group, the European People’s Party, is leading the effort to reform Europe’s common migration rules. But for years, this work has been slowed down by resistance, especially from the Left, not only at EU level but also in national politics. European socialists work hard to block proposals aimed at stopping illegal immigration.
To do this, they join forces with the Greens and the far left. In some places they not only refuse to support action against illegal migration, but they even actively encourage it. Why? Because they see illegal migrants as potential new voters at a time when their current voters are not voting the “right” way.
A clear example is the recent decision of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to legalise more than half a million illegal migrants. This short-sighted move threatens the security of the Schengen area. These 500,000 people will be able to travel freely – and in practice with very few limits – to other EU member states.
This means that a criminal in Spain can easily become a criminal tomorrow in Belgium, France, Denmark, Poland, or Italy. The problem can quickly become Europe-wide. Many countries are rightly criticised for trying to deport illegal migrants and prevent them from re-entering Schengen, while Spain is moving in the opposite direction by granting legal status — and even citizenship.
More Measures Are Needed
After many years, the EU has finally reached an agreement on the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Its goals were clear: to regain control of the EU’s external borders and reduce migration pressure. This is an important step forward, but it is far from enough.
We still must solve the issue of returning people who have no right to stay. If today only one in five illegal migrants is actually returned, that is a serious problem and the rules must change. That is why we have called for additional measures, and concrete proposals are now on the table. In the European Parliament, the European People’s Party is pushing for two key steps.
The first is to strengthen the EU return system. The second is to make it easier to reject clearly unfounded asylum claims from safe countries. These measures are necessary to make the Migration Pact work in practice and to prevent abuse and loopholes.
Progress at Last
And the first success has already arrived. The centre-right majority in the European Parliament can now celebrate an important victory. Last Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted new legislation allowing member states to deport illegal migrants to safe countries outside the EU, even if the migrants do not come directly from those countries.
This includes rules on the “safe third country” and the “safe country of origin.” These changes will allow member states to reject unfounded asylum applications much faster and reduce secondary movements of migrants within the EU.
Under the new rules, EU countries will be able to send asylum seekers to third countries they passed through on their way to Europe. They can also return asylum seekers to safe third countries if there is an agreement with the host country. Another key step is the creation of a common list of safe countries of origin. The proposal includes countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Member states will also keep the right to add other safe countries at national level — except those removed from the EU list. This safe third country concept will help EU countries reject asylum claims more quickly as inadmissible.
A Key Step to Stop Illegal Migration
I welcome the European Parliament’s decision to speed up asylum procedures. A common list of safe countries of origin finally brings order into the system. People who do not need protection should not be allowed to wait for years.
Asylum should protect those who truly need international protection. It must not be used as a shortcut into the EU. More steps must follow.
Dear reader,
Opinions expressed in the op-ed section are solely those of the individual author and do not represent the official stance of our newspaper. We believe in providing a platform for a wide range of voices and perspectives, even those that may challenge or differ from our own. We remain committed to providing our readers with high-quality, fair, and balanced journalism. Thank you for your continued support.
