The future Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) has received another serious blow. On Wednesday 31 October, the Austrian government announced its decision not to sign and “thus not to bind Austria”, states a press release from the government coalition. It adds: “Austria will continue to develop its own laws on all migration issues”.
The United States and Hungary had already turned their backs on the non-binding pact, approved at the UN in July and which must be formally adopted in Marrakesh in December (see EUROPE 12066).
When asked to comment on Austria’s decision, a European Commission spokesperson, Natasha Bertaud, said it was “regrettable”. She went on to add: “We will continue our work to improve migration management both inside the EU and worldwide on the basis of our shared commitments”.
The Global Compact will provide a framework for international cooperation to deal with all migration-related aspects by guaranteeing respect of human rights, fostering legal migration and combating irregular migration, human traffickers and people smugglers.
In March this year, the Commission had put a proposal for a decision to the Council of the EU in order to be authorised to approve the compact on behalf of the EU when the time comes (see EUROPE 11986). The Hungarian and Austrian withdrawals are a thorn in the EU’s side. The decision by the Council of the EU has still not been adopted. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)