Migration on EU’s mind

Migration will dominate the European Union summit.

There is a full plate waiting for the leaders to dive in as Poland is calling for an EU stance against Russia and Belarus using migrants as a weapon and Italy and the Netherlands sending back migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected..

The toughest discussion will be on how to deal with irregular migrants arriving in bloc from the south, as they are perceived as a political and security risk as the topic fuels populist and far-right parties and influences elections.

The EU heads of states and governments will focus on concrete measures to prevent irregular migration including strengthened control of external borders, enhanced partnerships and reinforced return policies.

Irregular migrants arriving in Europe last year numbered less than a third of the 1 million seen during the migration crisis in 2015.

According to Frontex, in the first nine months of this year the number fell by more than 4% compared to 2023. But, while the irregular arrivals are falling, public perception is different.

Migration has become one of the top political priorities in most EU countries with populist parties using fear to make people vote for them.

Poland, which has presidential elections due in May 2025, wants to temporarily suspend asylum rights for migrants crossing over from Russia and Belarus, in a move many see as a violation of the EU’s charter of fundamental rights.

EU’s Migration Pact has no instruments to deal with the “weaponisation” of migration by countries like Russia, nor does it solve the hot issue of sending back migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.

European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said it would propose that migrants who have no right to stay in the EU be sent to “return hubs” in countries outside the EU, with which the bloc will strike deals.

The conservative Dutch government is weighing a plan to send rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda, the country’s trade and development minister recently said.

Also, an Italian ship carrying the first group of migrants to be processed in Albania under a deal between Rome and Tirana, arrived in the port of Shengjin on Wednesday morning.

This is the first scheme by a European Union state to divert asylum seekers abroad.

Italy has built two reception centers in Albania under its controversial program, which aims to deter irregular arrivals to Italy but has been criticised by rights groups who say it restricts migrants’ right to asylum.