After the Netherlands last week (see EUROPE 13107/5), the Italian government this week circulated a concept note on how to respond to migration flows.
Revealed by Politico and seen by EUROPE, the letter, intended to feed into the discussion of EU leaders on 9 and 10 February, focuses on the external dimension of migration and on ways to prevent migration from third countries, and also puts the spotlight, from an internal perspective, on the compulsory relocation of migrants, which it says must be at the heart of any solidarity mechanism to relieve the countries on the front line. “We are all aware that relocations do not represent the structural solution to migration flows but in the short term they remain a necessary tool to give solidarity a meaningful and concrete image”, the note says.
And for this solidarity to be effective, significant improvements must be made to the voluntary mechanism set up in 2022 under the French Presidency of the EU Council.
In particular, it is important to take into account “the impact of NGOs’ sea rescue operations” in this solidarity strand, with Rome also arguing for a definition of the responsibility of frontline countries (i.e. compliance with registration obligations) that is adapted to the geographical situation, as arrivals by sea represent, according to Rome, a different challenge than arrivals at land borders.
The letter identifies four areas of intervention: - better coordination between Member States in rescue operations at sea with a common framework; - addressing the reasons for departures and better cooperation on returns; - new partnerships with third countries of origin and transit; - the use of available levers (political dialogue, rewards for cooperation, trade conditions, visas, etc.).
Criticism
The note was criticised by some observers for not devoting a single word to the application of the Dublin rules, which aim to reduce secondary movements in the EU and are central to the concerns of other Member States, such as the Netherlands and Austria.
This question of the application of existing rules is also expected to be a major topic of discussion for European leaders, as is the question of fixed infrastructures at external borders and of visas granted to nationals of non-cooperative third countries on returns and readmissions, which could also prove sensitive.
Countries such as Germany, Spain and Luxembourg do not only want a ‘stick’ policy, but also a ‘carrot’ policy, and ask whether negative action on visas, trade or development aid might not make the situation even worse.
Link to the Italian document: https://aeur.eu/f/587 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Mathieu Bion)