EU leaders temped by “innovative ways” to curb migration influx

EU leaders brought a dowry of a new legislative proposal announced by the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on returns of irregular migrants. The head of the EU Executive said that just 20% of those who have a return decision are returned to their countries of origin. “We will soon present a new legislative proposal to replace the bill proposed in 2018, and that is stuck in the Parliament and the Council”, journalists were told on the sidelines of the Summit.

The European Commission is investigating innovative ways to address the issue of asylum seekers. The initiative will review the concept of a safe third country, which will contribute to burden-sharing the responsibility of processing asylum seekers’ procedures. “We fully acknowledge and take responsibility for the need for protection, but this does not mean that protection has to be in the European Union; you can also have protection in safe third countries,” von der Leyen said while giving an overview of the legislative initiative.

Von der Leyen further added that the idea of developing return hubs outside the European Union “is not trivial. “The discussion on return hubs concerns those who have no right to stay in the European Union,” she said, explaining that the discussion is still open.

Another strand of work is delivering support to the UNHCR and IOM so that they can contribute to the return of migrants to safe regions belonging to troublesome countries (such as Syria).

In its conclusions, the European Council “calls for determined action at all levels to facilitate, increase and speed up returns from the European Union, using all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including diplomacy, development, trade, and visas.”

The European Council calls for determined action at all levels to facilitate, increase, and speed up returns from the European Union, using all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including diplomacy, development, trade, and visas.

EU leaders further reiterated the “unwavering commitment to a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution and the Union’s support to the Palestinian Authority.” They condemned “in the strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on Israel on 1 October and expressed their “utmost concern” regarding the military escalation in Lebanon. Without ever mentioning the Israeli army, they also condemn “the attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), urging all parties to fully uphold “their obligation to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel.”

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, told journalists that many countries have raised the issue of revising the association agreement between the EU and Israel as a measure to dissuade the Israeli government from further escalating the tensions in the region. The exchange will continue in the next weeks, he pointed out.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not obtain a full agreement from the leaders on the 35 billion euros that the EU is engaged in delivering as part of a G7 initiative. This money will be landed through the profits on Russian immobilized assets. Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not waive the veto he is determined to use until the US elections.