At their informal meeting in Salzburg on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 September aimed at easing tension on migratory issues, the European leaders managed to make progress towards solutions recommended in June by the European Council, on cooperation with third countries and protection of the European Union’s external borders (see EUROPE 12051).
Without directly evoking the creation of regional disembarkation platforms for migrants rescued at sea outside the EU, the EU28 accepted the idea of developing their cooperation regarding returns and countering people smuggling with Egypt, as European Council President Donald Tusk had requested of them (see EUROPE 12098).
The fact that the Egyptian authorities are not irreproachable when it comes to respecting human rights - as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini had deplored in May - does not seem to be an insurmountable obstacle.
“For us, Egypt is a key partner for preventing the arrival of boats”, Sebastian Kurz said after the meeting. The Austrian chancellor, who had been at the origin of contacts with the Egyptian authorities, considers that this third country is “effective” in countering trafficker networks and that it has not been the point of departure for migrant boats to Europe for two years now.
Tusk will meet Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi again on Sunday 23 September in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Their aim will be to prepare for the EU/Arab League summit which will also cover migration issues, to be held in Cairo in February 2019.
Does this cooperation with Egypt aim to set in place the first “disembarkation platform” concluded with a third country? In reality, no it does not. Cooperation is “far broader” and encompasses other countries of the region, Tusk said.
“It is not a matter of setting up prisons for migrants. No-one is thinking of that and Egypt is opposed to the idea of receiving a European centre on its soil”, a diplomatic source from one member state explained earlier, saying that cooperation with Egyptian authorities would relate more to returns of illegal migrants and the fight against people smugglers.
Even Sebastian Kurz seemed to say that these platforms alone could not be an answer to illegal migration.
“This will not be a new agreement of the EU/Turkey kind”, a European source also stressed, taking the view that the agreement with Ankara in March 2016 to face up to the flow of migrants, especially from Syria, could not be replicated with Egypt.
At Council, agreement is hoped for by end 2018 on strengthening Frontex
The Salzburg discussions have shown that there is still divergence on the “internal” chapter of the response to the migratory challenge, although the atmosphere does seem appeased, if not “better”, said Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
On the subject of strengthening the mandate and the capability of the European border and coast guard corps (formerly Frontex), Kurz did not hide the reticence felt by the southern countries (Greece, Spain, Italy) regarding a possible loss of sovereignty. On Thursday, he seemed more optimistic, hoping that an “agreement will be reached by the end of the year” at the Council of the EU on the proposal on the table (see EUROPE 12094).
“It is mainly Hungary” that has problems when it comes to the question of the breakdown of competences between European and national levels, this diplomatic source said Thursday midday. He went on to underline that the Commission’s proposal does not provide for a “Frontex” border guard to decide in place of a national border guard. He said the former simply backs up the latter.
According to another source, views do converge somewhat regarding the need to strengthen the European corps but there are still questions to be answered on how to find 10,000 men and on the timetable, as the Commission had proposed that strengthening of the corps should be effective by end 2020.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called for an evaluation of the costs and usefulness of strengthening the European agency for the protection of the EU’s external borders. “I would prefer funds to be directed towards the financial facility for Africa”, he said.
Status quo on sharing out migrants within the EU
On the subject of the famous “control centres” for migrants rescued at sea in the territorial waters of the EU and the redistribution of asylum seekers between member states, there was no movement at all.
“There is still divergence and this will go on after our presidency” of the Council, said Kurz.
On Wednesday, the Netherlands proposed that a centre should be put to the test on its soil for migrants arriving in boats.
The crux of the problem, however, namely the choice of nearest safe port as a place for disembarkation, remains. Italy is not able to accept this rule which would therefore imply the landing of boats directly in its ports for migrants coming from Libya, even if it supported the creation of a European sharing mechanism.
One French source has denied that the dinner on 19 September was dominated by Franco-Italian conflict over control centres.
Giuseppe Conte mainly considers that it is the matter of redistributing the migrants that poses a problem as only 5-10% of the arrivals are people who are truly eligible for asylum. Despite the first entry country rule incorporated into the so-called “Dublin” rules on asylum, Rome refuses to carry out an examination of the profile of all migrants and would like the other member states to take this on.
“Some countries are reticent, as you well know, concerning redistribution. If only some countries take part in the mechanism, one cannot consider it European”, he said on Wednesday.
However, if the ship, the Aquarius, which has left for the coast of Libya, were to pick up more migrants, then the decision on who should take them in will remain, as it did this summer, on a case by case basis.
Will there be more incidences in Schengen Area?
This deadlock concerning the united nature of the emerging European mechanism could have consequences on free movement, warned Charles Michel, Belgium Prime Minister, speaking on Thursday morning.
Emmanuel Macron, French President, took the same view. “At a given time, the countries that do not want more Frontex or solidarity will leave Schengen (...), will no longer receive structural funds. (...) Europe is not an à la carte menu, it is a common project”, the French president said.
On Wednesday evening, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had urged the member states to finalise reform of the European asylum system before the European elections. Reform mainly comes up against the notion of sharing out asylum seekers and on the duration of a member state’s responsibility.
“We must move forward on reform of the so-called ‘Dublin’ regulation”, commented Macron, calling for a mechanism that is “sustainable and organised” and which abides by international law. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and Mathieu Bion)