The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the new plan of the European Union to combat illegal migration, which consists of ten points and also covers changes that will affect Ukrainians. About this informs RMF FM.
In a letter to the heads of states and governments of the EU countries, sent two days before the summit, von der Leyen announced the implementation of “innovative measures to combat illegal migration.” One of the key proposals was the creation of centers to hold migrants who were denied asylum outside the European Union.
This initiative received the approval of the European Commission for the first time, and it is actively supported by countries such as Poland. Italy has already taken the lead in this direction by organizing similar centers in Albania.
In addition, von der Leyen emphasized new rules aimed at speeding up the return of migrants who do not have the right to asylum to their countries of origin. This involves more effective deportation procedures and increased cooperation with countries from which migrants come.
Separately, she emphasized that solving the problem of hybrid attacks from Russia and Belarus will be an important task for the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration. In this context, agreements with airlines operating flights to Minsk, as well as the strengthening of visa policies to prevent the illegal flow of migrants through these countries, are being considered.
The new plan also provides for an update of the rules regarding the long-term stay of Ukrainian refugees in the EU, but specific changes have not yet been disclosed.
Migration issues will be one of the main topics of discussion at the two-day summit of EU leaders in Brussels, which begins this Thursday. In particular, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that his government has developed a strategy that involves temporarily suspending the right to asylum in certain areas of the border.
At the same time, the European Commission has already expressed concern that Poland’s unilateral actions to grant or refuse asylum may contradict international obligations in the field of human rights. At present, it remains unclear where exactly on the Polish border this strategy will be applied and how it will comply with the norms of international humanitarian law.
