The European Union’s executive arm, the European Commission, is set to propose new measures to tighten its stance on illegal immigration, responding to pressure from governments across the bloc, where illegal immigration has become a political and security concern.
Ahead of a summit in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote to EU leaders who are gathering to discuss potential measures to expel illegal immigrants.
Von der Leyen said that the European Commission, through the coming mandate, will continue to ensure that it stands “fair and firm on migration,” addressing what she said everyone agrees is “a European challenge.” The commission’s new term is likely to start on Dec. 1.
She proposed striking more deals with non-EU countries from which illegal immigrants originate, or through which they transit, in order to stop them there. She also suggested that those who have no right to stay in the EU be sent to “return hubs” in non-EU countries, such as Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali.
“We should ... explore possible ways forward as regards the idea of developing return hubs outside the EU, especially in view of a new legislative proposal on returns,” she wrote in the letter.
At the summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he expected disagreements among member states over the issue of immigration.
“One thing is quite clear: If the common European asylum system is implemented more quickly now, if we make progress in terms of efficiency, for example with regard to the return directive, then that will help,” he said.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said: “We need to see collectively how we can limit the flow of asylum seekers and stimulate returns. It will be a process of trial and error, but it’s important that we look what we can do.”
During the summit, Poland and Baltic countries stated that they wanted a common bloc stance against Russia and Belarus’s using immigration as a weapon against the EU.
EU officials have previously accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the illegal immigrants, with backing from Russian President Vladimir Putin, as pawns in a “hybrid attack” against the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for sanctions.
About 8,000 illegal immigrants have entered from Belarus this year, and border guards have prevented about 28,000 attempted crossings, according to European Commission figures.
Finland suspended such asylum rights in July after illegal immigrants pushed across the border from Russia.
Immigration policies have sparked widespread frustration throughout the EU, leading to an electoral shift to the right.
This was shortly after the anti-immigration populist party Alternative for Germany made a breakthrough in state elections, emerging as the dominant political force in eastern Germany.
