— by Hana Girma Mamo —
The new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, introduced in 2020, aims to create a more efficient, effective and balanced migration system. It aims to address migration challenges in a unified manner, balancing the interests of EU member states with the protection needs of asylum seekers. After extensive discussions and negotiations, in which Poland and Hungary strongly opposed the new policy, the European Parliament responded positively to the proposal in April 2024, arguing that the pact provides a balance between these competing interests.
One of the key and controversial components of the policy was stipulated in the second pillar, focusing on the control of migrants at the external borders. This pillar has attracted significant criticism, especially from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights advocates. The main concern is that the screening process may result in the detention of asylum applicants in external facilities, with children being particularly vulnerable to such practices. The possibility of prolonged detention at borders could raise serious human rights concerns, especially for minors and other vulnerable groups. The decision-making process on cases is often complex and isolating these persons and denying them access to better living conditions would place them in a vulnerable situation. In my perspective, holding large numbers of people in one place, especially those fleeing persecution and war, raises ethical issues about the humane treatment of these people. The EU should consider that such practices are not an adequate response to those fleeing violence and hardship.
The third pillar incorporated an objective proposing accelerated procedures for asylum applications, returns and border control to streamline administrative processes. While this idea is seen as increasing efficiency, critics argue that it could undermine the thoroughness and fairness of individual assessments. The emphasis on administrative speed risks ignoring the complex and thorough nature of immigration cases, which require scrutiny of everyone’s circumstances. Some argue that the EU is compromising human rights for the sake of politics, which contradicts the EU’s core values.
The issue of immigration has been and remains a sensitive one for European countries, as more and more people from the Middle East and Africa make Europe their destination. Certain countries, because of economic problems or simply a unfamiliarity with foreigners, have protested against the flow of migrants into their country. While this is understandable concern on the part of European nations, pursuing a policy that paves the way for the violation of human rights should therefore be no answer to solving the migration crisis that Europe is now facing.
In summary, although the EU migration pact aims to streamline asylum and migration procedures, it faces strong opposition from human rights organisations due to concerns about possible human rights violations at the external borders and the speed with which asylum applications are to be processed. In my point of view, the EU should consider the possible long-term negative consequences of implementing the pact and how the measure will set a negative precedent by undermining the protection of migrants’ human rights.
Sources:
- European Commission, ‘Common European Asylum System’, European Commission,2024, https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/common-european-asylum-system_en [accessed 13 January 2025].
- PICUM, ‘Open Letter: EU Migration Pact Poses Human Rights Risks’, Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, 2024, https://picum.org/blog/open-letter-eu-human-rights-risks-migration-pact/ [accessed 12 January 2025].
- Euronews, ‘European Parliament Narrowly Endorses EU Migration Reform, Moving It Closer to the Finish Line’, Euronews, 10 April 2024, https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/04/10/european-parliament-narrowly-endorses-eu-migration-reform-moving-it-closer-to-the-finish-l [accessed 12 January 2025].
