EU COUNTRIES MAY soon be able to find it easier to send asylum seekers to countries they did not come from, but that Europe deems “safe”.
It’s after a majority of MEPs in the European Parliament agreed to the move during a contentious debate today in Strasbourg, where they also sought to further tighten migration policy via the creation of a list of countries prohibiting people from seeking asylum in the EU.
The list – comprising Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia – was blasted by left-wing and left-of-centre groups as risking human rights breaches and putting people’s lives in danger.
The measures will now be forwarded to the European Council and, if brought into effect, would speed up the processing of asylum claims and accelerate returns for some from the listed countries.
Ana Catarina Mendes, vice-president of the centre-left Socialists and Democrats group, said that the passing of the safe third country concept was “Trumpian” and “throwing into question Europe’s commitment to fundamental rights”.
“Look at what is happening in the USA,” Mendes told parliament, referring to the immigration crackdown by the Trump White House.
We all see the reality of a far-right immigration policy. It is disappointing that the rapporteurs decided to work with forces that are pushing for Trumpian policies. This is the wrong path for Europe.
The European Commission rejects the criticism, insisting that any country receiving migrants under the scheme must respect fundamental rights.
The Socialists and Democrats pointed to how the new measures were pushed by an alliance formed between the centre right conservatives and the far right during the current parliament, with that combined grouping holding enough sway to get both texts over the line today.
The European Conservatives and Reformists co-chair Nicola Procaccini, one of the groupings that got the proposals through, said it allows a “clear prospect that Europe’s migration challenges can finally be brought under effective control” if they are implemented.
Procaccini, who is an ally of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, claimed that it marks a “turning point” for immigration to Europe. “If effective, illegal migrants will not even try to enter in a few years,” he added.
It was passed at the European Parliament in Strasbourg by 408 votes to 184, with 60 MEPs abstaining.
Of Ireland’s 14 MEPs, three Fine Gael members – Seán Kelly, Regina Doherty and Nina Carberry – voted in favour of the safe countries proposal.
Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh voted against the plan, as did Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Riordáin and Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan.
Fianna Fáil’s four MEPs and Independent MEP Ciaran Mullooly all abstained. Independent MEP Michael McNamara was not in attendance as he was away on EU business.
With reporting by AFP
