New asylum rules in Europe: speeding up deportations and tightening restrictions on non-cooperators
The interior ministers of the European Union agreed in Luxembourg on new measures that tighten asylum rules and the deportation of migrants, aimed at controlling migration flows, speeding up procedures at external borders, and combating illegal stays within the Union.
The new procedures stipulate that asylum applications at external borders will be processed more quickly and in a more organized manner, in order to prevent the entry of individuals whose applications are unlikely to be accepted. EU countries emphasize that those who do not have the right to stay in Europe should undergo faster deportation procedures without delay.
In the middle of the report, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation stated that the negotiations were difficult due to objections raised by both Italy and Greece, as they bear a significant burden being on the front line with the influx of migrants from the sea. Nevertheless, the ministers managed to reach a majority agreement that allows for the adoption of these rules.
One of the ministers confirmed that the goal is to ensure the asylum system works effectively and to enable European countries to provide real support to those in need of protection. Danish Minister of Immigration Rasmus Stoklund stated that the new rules give countries, for the first time, powerful tools to deal with irregular migrants, allowing them to be detained for longer periods, and imposing entry bans that can last for many years, potentially leading to indefinite bans in cases that pose a security threat.
The decisions include clear punitive measures against individuals who do not cooperate with return orders, as member states can: • Reduce or suspend some assistance and services provided to them • Prevent the issuance of work permits or revoke them • Impose criminal penalties that may include prison sentences • Tighten restrictions on their movements and the possibility of detaining them for longer periods
The council clarified that the 'country of return' does not have to be the country of origin exclusively, but can be a third country that has reception agreements with the union, thus opening the door to the establishment of deportation centers outside the union that can serve as transitional or final destinations for deportees.
The decisions also include a specific tightening regarding those classified as 'security threats', where a much longer entry ban can be imposed than the previous maximum of ten years, and in some cases, it may even become permanent. Countries can also implement long-term detention for these individuals that exceeds current restrictions.
The new package also stipulates that all EU countries will be required to participate in receiving asylum seekers or pay alternative financial contributions, with the aim of distributing burdens more evenly among member states.
The agreement still needs approval from the European Parliament before it can take effect, which may require more time before it is officially implemented.