On Wednesday 24 May, EU Member States had an informal exchange about the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’ with Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to take stock of the ongoing negotiations and plan for possible future scenarios.
According to one source, Wednesday’s discussion focused on Tunisia and efforts to manage arrivals from that country.
It has been reported that the “Med5” group – Greece, Italy, Malta, Cyprus and Spain – used the discussion to reiterate certain fundamental demands, in particular about the balance between responsibility and solidarity, issuing a reminder that, in the negotiations, “it is imperative to have the same level of ambition in relation to, on the one hand, the responsibility of the first-entry States (starting with provisions on border procedures) and, on the other hand, the solidarity of the other Member States (starting with relocations)”.
These first-entry countries also argued for realistic, sustainable and fair parameters, according to reports.
In an interview with Politico, the commissioner said she was confident that Member States can reach a deal before the end of their mandates, before the summer.
In addition to the regulations on asylum and migration management and asylum procedures, Member States still need to agree on the ‘Crisis’ Regulation. The Swedish Presidency has reportedly decided to merge this instrument with the regulation on the instrumentalisation of migration, proposed at the end of 2021. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)