Time to Reform EU Asylum Policy

While conditions for asylum seekers arriving on the Greek islands have been worsening over the past months, the political situation has worsened after Turkey's decision to open its borders with Greece and encourage Europe-bound asylum seekers to cross them. Erdogan’s decision has undermined the EU-Turkey deal and added to the congestion and precarious situation on the Aegean Islands and the land border between Greece and Turkey. It was followed by the Greek government announcing it will stop accepting any asylum applications for one month, while invoking Article 78.3 of the TEU to call for a joint European response.

The humanitarian crisis at Europe's borders and the political gridlock that has built up over the last months draw attention to the EU's failure to finding a solution to its system for managing the arrival of migrants and refugees. While European Council President Charles Michel visits Greece and Turkey to express European unity this week, it has become painfully evident that the EU-Turkey deal from 2016, aiming to stop migrants entering the EU, is not sustainable.

Europe's leaders have the chance to respond to the current situation by showing solidarity, both towards those fleeing conflict and hardship as well as the areas at the EU's borders that have to deal with the arrival of refugees. The EU's approach when supporting Member States managing the arrival of migrants and controlling the EU's external borders must be underpinned by the protection of fundamental rights and the sharing of responsibilities between Member States. Moreover, to address geopolitical challenges in the countries of origin of asylum seekers, the EU should take a stand and effectively address the economic, environmental and geopolitical cause of mass population displacement.

Input from the European Movement International

As we argue in our Policy Position “Migration and the Refugee Crisis: A European Response”, a true Common European Immigration and Asylum Policy is necessary to provide a European response to a European challenge. Inspired by the principle of solidarity, European migration policy should be built on a common agenda and not on unilateral action contrary to European values.

The open nature of Europe should be preserved. The European Movement supports the fair sharing of responsibility to host asylum seekers and refugees, according to the economic and social capacities of EU Member States and EEA states.

As elaborated in another Policy Position on “Migration and Europe: Protecting Fundamental Rights”, the scale of migrant flows must not in any way legitimise an erosion of fundamental rights and humanitarian standards. With this regard, we advocate for the development of a European humanitarian visa system, allowing those seeking international protection to safely apply for a visa in the Union.