The Chief Advisor pointed out that certain countries are not waiting for the EU's response to change.Continue reading
The European Parliament is set to vote on the EU’s new pact on migration and asylum, Index reports. After seven years of negotiations, the European Union reached a political agreement on the migration and asylum pact last December.
The protracted debate centered on the screening of migrants at borders, potentially introducing it as a new element in migration regulation. This part of the pact aims to swiftly identify genuine refugees at the EU’s external borders upon arrival. It also proposes the immediate deportation of illegal arrivals after detention and a streamlined repatriation process.
The pact addresses all stages of asylum and migration management,
including screening illegal migrants upon arrival to the EU, collecting biometric data, asylum application procedures, determining responsible Member States for asylum applications, inter-Member State cooperation, solidarity, and crisis management strategies, including addressing the exploitation of illegal migrants.
Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: European Parliament
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the pact, stating, “this law on migration and asylum will ensure an effective European response to this challenge. It will empower Europeans, rather than smugglers, to determine who can enter and stay in the European Union.”
Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, swiftly opposed the agreement, emphasizing Hungary’s sovereignty over its borders. He declared at a press conference in December that
only those whom we choose to allow into Hungary will be permitted entry. We reject this migration pact and refuse to admit anyone against our will.”
The Hungarian government contends that EU migration policies have failed. Balázs Orbán, Prime Minister Orbán’s political director, criticized the existing systems, particularly opposing the quota-system for distributing illegal immigrants and the EU’s proposed establishment of open reception centers. Balázs Orbán highlighted the Hungarian government’s rejection of these proposals, asserting that they contradict Hungary’s commitment to protecting its people’s interests.
This proves exactly why migration needs to be stopped and not dealt with!#Hungary has been saying it since 2015, and we’ll continue to do so. https://t.co/g4twZPCMvl
— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) April 8, 2024
Via Index; Featured Image: Pixabay