German Chancellor Olaf Scholz outlined his vision for the EU’s future migration policy in Prague on Monday (29 August), urging the bloc to find a balance between solidarity and protection of external borders.
“Europe remains a dream destination for millions across the globe. On the one hand, that’s shining proof of the attractiveness of our continent,” Scholz said. “At the same time, it’s a reality which we Europeans need to deal with.”
The wide-ranging speech, which was almost an hour long, was delivered at Charles University in Prague.
Following an overview of current challenges facing the EU – of which the destabilising effects of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine took centre stage – Scholz made the case for reform through enlargement, sovereignty through trade, technology and strategic defence, and defence of the rule of law across the bloc.
Alongside financial policy, Scholz described the EU’s approach to migration as one of the sources of “the greatest tensions among us in years gone by.”
Highlighting the EU’s activation of the Temporary Protection Directive, the German leader celebrated the EU’s “progress on migration policy.”
EU countries set to drop barriers for Ukraine refugees
The European Commission has proposed that those fleeing the war in Ukraine should be granted “temporary protection” in the EU, while border checks should be simplified. EU interior ministers will decide on the matter on Thursday.
The European Commission has proposed that those fleeing the war in Ukraine should be granted “temporary protection” in the EU, while border checks should be simplified. EU interior ministers will decide on the matter on Thursday.
The Temporary Protection Directive, a mechanism set up following the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia to provide immediate and temporary protection for a mass influx of displaced people, was activated for the first time following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February following adoption by the European Council on 4 March.
The EU’s border agency, Frontex, reported on 8 August that 7.6 million Ukrainian nationals have entered the EU from Ukraine and Moldova since Russia’s invasion.
The reality behind the Directive, Scholz said, is “a little bit of normality far from home: a swift and secure residence permit, the opportunity to work, the right to attend school or […] university.”
A balancing act
Casting ahead to the future migration policy, the EU must create “binding partnerships with countries of origin and transit – as equal partners,” Scholz said.
“We should be swifter than before in giving people who are legally in the EU as beneficiaries of protection to take employment in other EU member states – to use their skills where they are needed.”
However, the Chancellor also cautioned against being “naive”. The EU “must prevent abuse at the same time – in cases, for instance, in which there is no actual desire to work,” he said.
“If we offer workers more legal routes to Europe, there must in return be more readiness on the part of countries of origin to enable their own citizens to return when they have no right to remain,” he added.
He also emphasised the protection of the external borders of the Schengen zone, which must be “protect[ed] and develop[ed]”. The Schengen area “stands or falls with that protection,” he said.
“If we can manage that, then freedom of movement won’t result in overwhelmed social-security systems. That way, we will secure lasting public support for this great European freedom.”
The future of solidarity
“Europe needs an asylum policy built on solidarity and immune to crises,” Scholz said, adding that “we have a duty to offer a safe home to people in need of protection.”
The Chancellor highlighted the work on migration policy reform under the French Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of the year, in which officials agreed to take a “step-by-step” approach to the Commission’s 2020 proposal for a New Pact on Asylum and Migration.
In June, 18 member states signed up to a voluntary solidarity mechanism, which offers relocations, financial contributions and support to alleviate pressure on member states hosting the largest numbers of asylum-seekers.
The mechanism has faced criticism, however, with Oxfam’s Stephanie Pope saying that “apart from being temporary and voluntary, the proposal allows EU countries to cherry-pick their asylum-seekers […] it allows EU countries to continue to shirk their responsibility towards refugees and leave countries at the EU’s borders to manage Europe’s refugee response.”
More on the proposal is expected under the Czech Presidency of the EU Council.
[Edited by Benjamin Fox]
Source: euractiv.com
