EU Parliament passes groundbreaking changes to migration policy

The European Parliament approved the European Union's plan to reform how it deals with irregular migration, marking a significant step forward. This package aims to bring about fundamental changes in how the EU manages the arrival of large numbers of people seeking asylum, often escaping conflict in their home countries.

The reforms are meant to alleviate the pressure on countries that have traditionally received the highest number of asylum-seekers within the EU. Nations like Greece, Italy, and Malta, located closer to the EU's southern borders, have been inundated with a significant influx of individuals from the Middle East and North Africa following events such as the Arab Spring and the Syrian civil war.

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, expressed satisfaction with the new legislative framework for managing migration and asylum in the EU. It took over a decade to develop, but they stayed true to their promises.

The Dublin Regulation, which required member states to handle asylum-seekers who arrived first at their borders with little support from Brussels or other members, will be revamped under these reforms. The EU aims to distribute the responsibility among all 27 member states by relocating individuals or providing financial and practical aid for processing refugee applications.

Politics is the main driving factor behind the current events. In the upcoming European elections in June, migration is expected to be a major issue. Anti-immigration politicians are predicted to gain enough support to have significant influence in the EU parliament.

"It was important to pass these reforms before the elections so that mainstream EU parties can show they are taking action on migration," explains Joelle Grogan, senior researcher at UK in a Changing Europe.

Looking beyond the European elections, there is a noticeable rise of right-wing movements. In several EU countries such as Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, and Sweden, anti-immigrant Euroskeptic politicians hold power, either independently or in coalition. In other key countries like France and Germany, they are influential voices in the opposition.

Grogan mentioned that this trend has caused the European political mainstream to adjust their policies on migration and national security in order to attract voters who support these voices.

The question now is, will these reforms be effective?

The EU will rightly celebrate this victory after years of negotiation on one of the thorniest policy issues on the continent. However, the reforms are not as wide-ranging as some had hoped.

While the Dublin Regulation is being overhauled, the burden of processing migrants will still mostly fall on the countries where they land. Factors such as holding a diploma obtained in the past six years from another member state or having family elsewhere in the bloc may allow migrants to apply elsewhere. Nevertheless, senior analyst Alberto Neidhardt from the European Policy Centre notes, "We can assume that this will affect only a small number of people. These are just cosmetic changes."

The other key part of these reforms is the solidarity mechanism. This requires other member states to assist those most affected by migration. They can do this by taking in people (EU rules set this at a minimum of 30,000 per member state per year), providing financial support (at $600 million annually), or offering capacity assistance, such as lending personnel.

The EU states that member countries will have full discretion in choosing how they contribute to solidarity. No EU country will be forced to relocate individuals, except in exceptional circumstances.

This, Neidhardt says, is where the politics could get tricky once again.

“This will all take a couple of years to implement in the first place, so there will not be changes overnight,” he says.

Member states will have the final say on how to implement these new measures. There may be negotiations on who can provide cash and who must accept refugees. This could lead to discussions on other EU matters as well. For instance, countries have stood firm on certain issues, such as funding for Ukraine or Covid relief, in exchange for overlooking their violations of EU regulations.

The reforms include various controversial measures, such as providing funds to non-EU countries to reduce migration into the EU and the potential for offshoring processing. However, Brussels has not yet specified the details of how these measures will be implemented. An implementation plan is anticipated to be released in the upcoming weeks.

What impact will these reforms have on migration?

Grogan emphasizes that the key factor to consider with these reforms is not just what they accomplish, but whether they make member states and their voters feel like they have better control over migration.

Neidhardt points out that the solidarity mechanism should also work towards improving trust among member states, which has typically been lacking in migration issues. Having a common set of rules, even if countries have different approaches, could help to create a more level playing field.

The EU functions better when member states have good relationships and stable politics. Many in Brussels may not openly acknowledge it, but these reforms largely aim to maintain unity. The success or failure of these reforms will only have a minor impact on the EU's unity in the future. The EU still has to tackle various challenges, including Ukraine, climate change, and the upcoming leadership change in the United States.

Editor's P/S:

The European Union's migration reform is a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by irregular migration. The overhaul of the Dublin Regulation and the introduction of a solidarity mechanism aim to alleviate the pressure on frontline states and distribute responsibility more equitably among member states. However, the limited scope of the reforms and the potential for political maneuvering in implementing the solidarity mechanism raise concerns about their effectiveness in addressing the root causes of migration and fostering greater trust among member states.

The political dynamics surrounding anti-immigration sentiment and the rise of right-wing movements have influenced the timing and content of these reforms. The upcoming European elections and the need for mainstream parties to demonstrate action on migration have played a role in shaping the reforms. However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will effectively address voter concerns and mitigate the influence of anti-immigration rhetoric in the long term.