The European interior ministers met on Thursday 8 October for a first round table discussion on a proposal for reform of asylum in the EU, which augurs long and difficult negotiations as the 27 are divided.
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Germany, which holds the presidency of the EU until the end of the year, hopes to reach agreement in principle at the beginning of December on "
key points
" of the new Pact on migration and asylum, proposed in September by the European Commission.
"
It is a very heavy and difficult task
," admitted German Minister Horst Seehofer, while warning that an agreement was "
crucial
" for Europe.
He hopes to agree with his counterparts on a "
road map
" on this reform.
In an attempt to break the deadlock, five years after the 2015 migration crisis, the Commission proposed a mechanism of compulsory solidarity between Member States and countries of arrival of migrants (Greece, Italy, etc.).
EU countries that do not want to welcome asylum seekers in the event of an influx will, on the other hand, have to participate in the return of rejected asylum seekers from the European country where they arrived to their country of origin.
But the proposal arouses reluctance from several Central European countries, Hungary in the lead, hostile to immigration.
And the countries on the front line (Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Malta) are worried about an “
imbalance
” between their obligations and the envisaged solidarity.
Discussions could last "
years
"
The discussions could last “
years
”, believe several European sources.
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, who presented this "
pact
" on September 23 after a tour of capitals and discussions with all member states, did not expect anyone to be "
fully satisfied
" with her. proposal.
She says she is "
optimistic
" on the possibility of reaching an agreement, between the 27 but also with the European Parliament, but does not expect everything to be "
finalized
" before the first half of 2021.
The Swede has also rejected the criticisms of NGOs on a Europe "
fortress
".
"
I don't agree,
" she told AFP.
"
The proposal clearly defends fundamental rights, the right to asylum, provides for new legislation to avoid refoulements (...) and solidarity for migrants rescued at sea
".
