The ambassadors of the EU states, who met on Wednesday in Brussels, agreed on the key text of the European political reform on migration, overcoming Italy’s reluctance, before the summit on Friday the 27th in Spain, reported AFP and Agerpres.

The provision in question is designed to organize a European response in the event of a massive influx of migrants to an EU country, as happened during the refugee crisis of 2015-2016. In particular, he promises to extend the period of detention of migrants at the external borders of the community block.

The deal announced by Spain, which holds the EU presidency, will now be subject to negotiations with the European Parliament.

The text, the last piece of the EU’s “Pact on Asylum and Migration” that member states had to agree to, has been contested by Germany for months, citing humanitarian reasons.

The issue of migration has caused new disputes within the European Union

A compromise was worked out at a meeting of interior ministers in late September to get the green light from Berlin, but then Italy expressed its opposition.

His objections focused on the role of NGOs rescuing migrants, according to diplomatic sources, with Rome accusing Berlin of funding several rescue NGOs in the Mediterranean, some of which operate under the German flag.

The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Maloni, last week asked these non-governmental organizations to disembark the migrants in the countries under whose flags they fly. The compromise adopted on Wednesday finally won the support of both Italy and Germany.

The European Commission and Spain, which presides over the EU Council for six months, expressed confidence in the prospects of reaching an agreement ahead of an informal European Council meeting on Friday in Grenada (southern Spain).

The acute problem of migration will be at the center of discussions between heads of state and government. The paralysis of this “crisis regulation” is causing frustration in the EU in the context of the increase in the arrival of migrants at its external borders and the situation on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Public block tightens rules for asylum seekers

The text envisages, in case of “massive” and “exceptional” influx of migrants, the application of the derogation regime, less protection for asylum seekers than the usual procedures.

It extends the length of time a migrant can be held at the EU’s external borders to 40 weeks and allows faster and simplified asylum procedures for more expellees (all those arriving from countries with a recognition rate, i.e. a rate of positive response to asylum requests below 75%), making you easier to deport.

It also provides for the rapid launch of some solidarity mechanisms towards a Member State facing such an influx, particularly in the form of relocation of asylum seekers or financial contributions.

During the meeting in July, the majority required to pass this ordinance was not reached. Germany abstained from the vote due to opposition from the Greens, members of the ruling coalition, who have demanded changes for minors and families.

In order to force the 27 to agree on this regulation, the European Parliament decided to put a pause in the already started negotiations with the member states on two other texts of the migration package aimed at strengthening security at the external borders.

Poland and Hungary remain against the movement of migrants between member states

But Wednesday’s deal “represents a big step forward and we are now in a better position to reach an agreement on the entire Asylum and Migration Pact with Parliament by the end of this semester,” the Spanish minister assured. Interior by Fernando Grande-Marlasca Gómez.

The declared aim is in any case to achieve the adoption of this Pact, presented in September 2020 by the European Commission and containing around ten pieces of legislation, before the European Parliament elections in June 2024.

According to a diplomatic source, during the vote on Wednesday, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic abstained, while Poland and Hungary spoke against.

“We ask Brussels to immediately put an end to this migration policy, mandatory resettlement quotas (…). The growing migratory pressure on Central Europe is entirely due to Brussels, which “supports the economic model of traders” of migrants, responded the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto.