After a lengthy discussion, EU leaders adopted conclusions on migration during the night of Thursday 9 to Friday 10 February, reflecting the demand of some Member States to protect their external borders and to have new EU funds for this purpose, but also the demand of countries to avoid any direct EU funding of ‘anti-migrant’ fences.
They also discussed Italy’s concerns at its maritime borders and the activities of NGOs operating at sea to rescue migrants. The conclusions on the subject remained unchanged, however, opening the door to a coordination framework for NGO rescue operations at sea, as requested by Rome, while allowing them to operate, as demanded by Berlin.
They also agreed to launch two pilot projects, one on border protection, using a range of tools such as cameras, vehicles and surveillance towers, and another on implementing faster border procedures and returns, explained Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the summit.
On the controversial subject of external border protection, the leaders adopted a rather vague paragraph inviting the Commission to “finance measures taken by Member States which contribute directly to the control of the EU’s external borders, such as border management pilot projects, as well as to the enhancement of border control in key countries on transit routes to the European Union”.
They also maintained the language of previous conclusions on financing infrastructure and capacity at external borders, without ever referring to walls.
On returns, leaders continued to call for the use of all visa policy levers, including a restrictive or trade policy, although the Commission President also insisted on positive levers such as “legal migration”.
Leaders will review migration again at the European Council on 23-24 March, European Council President Charles Michel said. The ministers of home affairs are expected to be called upon at their level to address both the application of the Dublin rules and the issue of NGOs.
The subject of anti-migrant ‘walls’ has in any case animated part of the debates and the leaders were very divided on the subject on Thursday morning.
However, the Commission President reiterated her institution’s position: while Member States can protect their external borders as they wish with “national funding”, we are “very clear” on what ”border management” means, the president once again ruling out EU funding for walls.
While Austria, Greece, but also Italy supported the demand to finance ‘walls’ at the external borders, starting with the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, other countries were quick to warn against solutions that have never proven effective, such as Luxembourg, whose Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, cited the wall between the United States and Mexico.
On leaving the European Council, the Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, reiterated her opposition.
“We have seen more concrete threats when it comes, for example, to the hybrid threat that influences borders. Finland has decided to ensure that we have the capacity to monitor all borders, whatever the situation, but of course we do not want a divided Europe with, for example, border fences”.
Asked about the issue, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for “pragmatic” solutions and a holistic approach. “Germany is ready to contribute when Mediterranean countries ask to take in refugees”, he added.
For French President Emmanuel Macron, the debate was “calmer than in 2018” and showed the will to improve “compliance with procedures, more responsibility and burden sharing between Member States. The debates will continue”. “If we have to control the flows to the EU, we need immigration for work, for skills”, the president also commented.
Link to the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/5ai (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and the editorial staff)