Europe’s leaders discussed, on Friday 27 October, the external dimension of migration and once again gave their support to full partnership projects with third countries, such as the agreement sealed in July with Tunisia and the one that the Commission is in the process of concluding with Egypt, as stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The heads of state and government also reiterated the need to combat migrant smuggling and improve the return of illegal immigrants.
Although the debate was “brief”, as the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, summed it up, and did not give rise to any elaborate conclusions, the discussion did nonetheless reveal a “growing consensus in favour of strengthening cooperation with third countries, including through agreements that are as comprehensive as possible”.
While the EU27 simply emphasised in the conclusions that they had taken note of the recent letter on migration sent to them by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (see EUROPE 13279/7), the latter indicated at the press conference that she had observed “strong support for my letter”, which announced new measures to increase return rates (only 22% of decisions executed in 2023) and to step up the fight against human smugglers, including legislative avenues, with the current 20-year-old framework being reviewed at the end of November.
The letter also announced plans for new partnerships with third countries, and the President said on Friday: “We are currently working on a similar model (to Tunisia) with Egypt”. Egypt is also “very open to this type of comprehensive partnership”, which covers more than just migration.
She also noted that the number of arrivals from Tunisia had “fallen”. “We are seeing the first effects”.
The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, also noted a “broad consensus” on the subject of migration, he reported at the end of the Summit, particularly on “preventing illegal entries”. The Chancellor stressed the importance of adopting the Pact on Migration and Asylum “during this legislative period” and of reaching “agreements with third countries of origin and transit”.
It is also necessary to “allow a legal migration route for the necessary workforce, in an unbureaucratic way, and readmission for those who do not have the right of residence”.
The Italian leader, Giorgia Meloni, for her part, referred to the plan for a new naval mission to rescue migrants at sea, discussed in Lampedusa last September (see EUROPE 13252/7) with Ms von der Leyen, and insisted on the need to have the support of the authorities of the third countries concerned. “The decisive factor, which explains why previous missions have not worked, is that the authorities in North African countries would need to agree. Because if you do it in international waters, it becomes a ‘pull factor’. If we do it in national waters (of North African countries), then we can do some serious work”.
The day before, she had expressed her satisfaction with Ms von der Leyen’s letter, which demonstrated the EU’s intention to make concrete progress. Commenting on the difficulties surrounding the implementation of the agreement with Tunisia, she also explained that “when we deal with institutions or representatives of other countries, we must do so with respect, not with a paternalistic approach. If we want to talk about partnership strategy, we need to do so as equals, with respect. That’s what was missing with Tunisia and that’s what caused the problem”.
Link to the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/9b5 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with the editorial staff)