A dozen countries, including Italy, refused to agree to a reform of Europe’s asylum system on Thursday, June 8, during a crucial meeting of interior ministers in Luxembourg, where negotiations continue to find a compromise.
“Support for this text is a problem for us,” Italian Minister Matteo Piantedosi told a public roundtable. Rome wants rejected asylum seekers to be able to be sent back to “safe” countries through which they have travelled, even if they have no special connection to those countries. Germany, on the other hand, is opposed to this idea.
“Like Italy, we are not ready to give our consent,” said Greek representative Mikhail Karamalakis. “We are disappointed that our concerns were not addressed,” he said on the issue of transit countries. Another Mediterranean country, Malta, has announced its intention to abstain on the compromise tabled by Sweden, which holds the biannual presidency of the Council of the European Union.
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Compulsory but “flexible” solidarity
Poland, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria and Slovakia also rejected the text, while Denmark and Latvia objected. Therefore, negotiations will continue in order to find a compromise acceptable to the Mediterranean countries.
This meeting is considered a key moment for the difficult discussions on the European Migration and Asylum Pact. One of the texts provides for mandatory but “flexible” European solidarity with the countries where migrants first arrive in the EU. Member States would be obliged to accept a certain number of asylum seekers arriving in an EU country under migratory pressure or, if this is not possible, to make a financial contribution to that country.
The other text presented to ministers obliges member states to introduce an accelerated examination procedure in centers at the borders for asylum applications that statistically have the least chance of success, with the aim of facilitating the return of these applicants to their country of origin or transit.
To be adopted, the texts must win the votes of 15 of the 27 member countries, representing at least 65% of the EU population. However, the agreement of the Mediterranean countries, especially Italy, is considered crucial for the success of such an agreement.
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