#Netherlands #member #states #insists #asylum #procedure #nonEU #countries
AFPEA migrant boat near the Canary Islands in October 2023
NOS News•today, 6:55 PM•Adjusted today, 7:32 PM
A group of EU member states, including the Netherlands, is working on a letter to the European Commission urging the reception of migrants trying to reach the EU in non-EU countries. This is reported by several Czech newspapers that have obtained the letter.
In the non-EU country, the migrants would then have to wait to see whether they will be granted asylum in the European Union. Asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies could also be accommodated there until their return journey.
Out-of-the-box-oplossingen
State Secretary Van der Burg of Asylum Affairs says that the EU countries are looking for “additional solutions” to strengthen their grip on migration and that the countries must therefore cooperate with each other.
“That is why I am in favor of countries also looking at out-of-the-box solutions such as the agreements that Italy made with Albania,” said the State Secretary. He emphasizes that these types of solutions must be in line with international and European law “at all times”.
Deal Italy and Albania
The idea, initiated by the Czech Republic and Denmark, is similar the agreement which Italy concluded with Albania in November. In non-EU country Albania, some of the rescued boat migrants are being housed at Italy’s expense while the Italian authorities process their asylum applications.
The letter to the European Commission calls for more partnerships with countries, using the Turkey deal as an example. Concrete plans are not yet included in the letter, nor are any possible countries mentioned with which to conclude deals.
After the 2015 migration crisis, the EU made agreements for the first time about stopping migrants, at the time with Turkey. These were initially controversial, but since then agreements have been reached with Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon, among others.
Criticism
There is a lot of criticism from human rights and aid organizations about outsourcing migration procedures. Amnesty International earlier this year called the deal between Italy and Albania “a harmful system”.
“Rather than adding to people’s suffering, authorities should ensure access to an effective asylum process, adequate shelter and safe, regular routes,” Amnesty said. The European Commission has so far ruled that the deal between Italy and Albania does not violate European rules.
EU correspondent Kysia Hekster:
“In December, after years of negotiations, an agreement was reached on a new and stricter European migration policy. This will only take effect in 2026, so you see countries trying to get a better grip on migration before then. This has been going on for some time. With the With the prospect of European elections, pressure is now increasing, because there is a fear that otherwise radical right-wing parties will attract many votes on the theme of migration.
There now appears to be a draft letter that countries must look at and decide whether they want to sign. The expectation here in Brussels is that the Netherlands will do that. The letter will then soon be sent to the European Commission with the request to take up these proposals and get to work on them.”
