Speaking at an event organised by the European Policy Centre on Thursday 26 June, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, said he was “optimistic” that the Council of the EU would make rapid progress on the draft regulation on the return of illegal immigrants in the EU, presented in March, adding that this also seemed to be the intention of the future Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
“I have the impression that they (the Member States and the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU) want to move quickly”, even if certain countries, such as “France or Germany”, may express different ideas, said the Commissioner. France, through its Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, supports a rapid decision, but remains opposed to the principle of mutual recognition of return decisions by Member States, which could become mandatory in 2027 (see EUROPE 13597/17, 13659/1).
“I’m optimistic about the Council of the EU; in the European Parliament it’s broader, we need majorities, but I also hope that it will adopt this regulation as quickly as possible”, added the Commissioner.
According to diplomatic sources, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to move quickly on this issue, backed by a fairly large majority of countries that want to move in this direction.
European Parliament vote planned for December. At this stage, a vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties is planned for December, with Dutch rapporteur Malik Azmani (Renew Europe) due to present his draft after the summer. However, according to some sources, the Council of the EU and the Commission are putting pressure on the European Parliament to speed up the LIBE timetable even further.
The question of return ‘hubs’ will be one of the most controversial, but a majority in favour would be possible with the centre right, the sovereignist right, the far right and part of Renew Europe.
Libya. During this wide-ranging exchange on migration issues, the Commissioner also indicated that he would be travelling to Libya “next week or the week after”, as requested by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The trip will take place on Tuesday July 8. The Commissioner will be accompanied by Italian, Greek and Maltese representatives at a time when these countries are seeing further increases in irregular arrivals via Libya.
Magnus Brunner also said that the Commission believes that the instrumentalisation of migrants is taking place in Libya, attributed in particular to Russia and Belarus, referring to the various schemes organised by these two countries to transport migrants to Libya so that they can then attempt to reach the EU. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)