The N-VA on the European Pact on Migration and Asylum: “Weak, unworkable and misleading”

Theo Francken, MP and former State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, and MEP Assita Kanko react to the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum concluded by the Member States. “This legislation is weak, unworkable and even misleading. A migration pact that does not include push-backs and still tolerates illegal migration is therefore a measure of no use,” says Theo Francken. Assita Kanko is not impressed, either. “They are again opting for symptom control without tackling the core issues.”

He also does not believe that the EU will succeed in organising the rapid screening and return in the frontline states. “Those centres within the European border will inevitably fill up in the short term and become Europe’s waiting room. It is thus almost impossible to organise the mass return of all those people who are rejected.” Francken therefore remains in favour of handling those procedures entirely outside European borders.

Waterproof zero tolerance

“An attempt at illegal migration must therefore never lead to a European right of residence,” Francken concludes. “As long as the EU does not consistently reject these applications, it will maintain the rogue system of human trafficking. Only a watertight zero tolerance policy for illegal maritime migration and asylum procedures beyond our European borders can stop this chaos.” He is referring to the Australian model that he has been advocating for many years now.

Not impressed

MEP Assita Kanko is not impressed either. “They are again opting for symptom control without tackling the core issues. Asylum seekers who can no longer reach the European border no longer stand a chance. This is entirely to the detriment of those who need protection the most.”

Asylum policy in the hands of traffickers

Moreover, organising the asylum procedure at the external borders plays fully into the hands of human traffickers. “We are putting our asylum and migration policy in the hands of traffickers. The world is turned upside down,” says Assita. “Asylum centres in countries of origin or nearby are the only effective solution to alleviate the pressure. This is how you can bring help closer to those who are unable to make the crossing or pay for it. And this is how you can break the revenue model of human traffickers.”

Polarisation

The second proposal the ministers agreed on included the principle of mandatory solidarity. It offers the Member States a choice: take over asylum seekers or make a financial contribution of EUR 20,000 per rejected asylum seeker. Assita Kanko understands the resistance that this raises. “The influx of asylum seekers is a logical consequence of weak external borders, and that is the responsibility of the EU. I do not think it is an efficient solution to penalise Member States that do not want to pay for the harmful consequences of bad policies. It contributes to even more polarisation.”