Divisions over migration policy within the European Commission have emerged ahead of the European elections.
Ylva Johansson, the EU commissioner for migration, recently dismissed the idea of replicating the UK’s plan to outsource asylum processing to Rwanda.
The European People’s Party (EPP) included a similar proposal in their political manifesto, which was supported by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in her reelection bid.
However, Johansson, a Swedish socialist, stated that such ideas are not permitted under the revised EU laws, known as the pact on migration and asylum.
She clarified that asylum seekers in Europe cannot be sent to another country for processing, as the pact does not allow for this. She also mentioned the recent Italy-Albania deal, emphasizing that it differs as it falls under Italian jurisdiction.
EPP and Rwanda
Johansson’s comments against the proposal to outsource asylum processing to Rwanda hold political significance, especially following von der Leyen’s announcement of seeking a second term as commission president.
The EPP manifesto echoes the UK’s plans and suggests transferring asylum seekers to a safe third country for processing. However, rights campaigners argue that this goes against international, European, and EU laws.
Stephanie Pope from Oxfam and Catherine Woollard from the European Council on Refugees and Exiles have expressed concerns about the legality and ethics of such proposals.
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Woollard also criticized the manifesto for proposing to deny access to asylum seekers at borders and for suggesting the temporary suspension of asylum applications in certain scenarios.
The far-right
The EPP’s focus on migration to attract far-right voters has raised concerns, with some questioning the effectiveness of this strategy. Margaritis Schinas, a vice-president of the European Commission, views the EU’s asylum pact as a way to counter the rise of the far-right.
A study by the European Council on Foreign Relations predicts significant gains for the far-right in the European Parliament elections, despite efforts to address migration issues. Schinas has framed opposition to the pact as aligning with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
