After lengthy negotiations, the EU has agreed on new European rules for asylum and immigration. These rules relate to the admission, reception and distribution of immigrants. "The question now is to what extent these countries will comply with these agreements. ”
The agreement was a compromise between "countries of arrival" such as Italy and Greece, "countries of destination" such as the Netherlands and Germany, and especially with Eastern European countries that did not accept migrants at all. It contains agreements on screening asylum seekers at the EU's external borders and their assignment to other member states upon their arrival.
Victory. Member States did not conclude this agreement overnight. RTL Nieuws political correspondent Floor Bremer said: "It took years to get these 27 countries to reach a consensus. The question now is to what extent these countries will comply with these agreements, which will determine the success or failure of this immigration agreement. ”
It remains to be seen whether Member States will actually abide by the agreements reached. "Looking back at recent years, the immigration agreements reached do not bode well," Bremer said, "but many destination countries are currently facing problems with asylum acceptance, so there is now a greater willingness to do so." The big question is how the solidarity reached in this agreement will work out in practice. ”
The new "Safe Migrant" rule stipulates that so-called "safe migrants" from countries with an acceptance rate of less than 20% may be held in detention centers, and an acceptance rate of less than 20% means that asylum seekers have little chance of success in their application.
EU immigration authorities are setting up accelerated asylum procedures for this group of asylum seekers.
Election. In order for these rules to be introduced, parliaments and member states must still formally approve them.
Negotiators are now desperate for a deal so as not to be put on hold by the European elections in June. At that point, it is likely that the negotiations will have to be restarted.
As more and more migrants embark on a dangerous journey to Europe, the European Parliament and countries** are feeling the pressure.
European elections will be held next year, and then the new policy will generally come to a standstill. That's why everyone wants Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission to reach an agreement in December.
Working with refugees is crucial.
Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland was extremely unhappy with the new immigration agreement. The group called the EU's new rules on admitting, receiving and distributing migrants "disappointing" and "lacking mutual solidarity."
Frank Kandel, chairman of the Dutch Refugee Council, said: "It is infuriating that the solidarity mechanisms that have been agreed upon can also be used to keep refugees out, rather than distributing them equitably across Europe. ”
Amnesty International was also critical, fearing "more human suffering". "The way people are treated outside the EU, the way they get asylum and legal support at European borders, and the way they are received within the EU: the agreement aims to make it harder for people to get safe".
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