a text criticized by the European Parliament to NGOs

After several years of discussions to try to unify their migration and asylum policy, the member states of the European Union reached an agreement on Wednesday, December 20 to fundamentally reorganize European rules. The text, presented by the European Commission in 2020, notably provides for reinforced control of migrant arrivals in the EU, centers near the borders and a mandatory solidarity mechanism between member countries, for the benefit of states subject to migratory pressure. But this text divides both within the Union and among the associations.

Greece, Italy and Spain, all three faced with high levels of immigration, have welcomed a reform which will no longer leave them “alone“. But Hungary has said it refuses the compulsory solidarity system. The European Commission, which speaks of an agreement “historical“, stressed that it was necessary “end“to the current asylum system which has allowed smugglers to exploit”our flaws“.

A “cruel” policy, according to NGOs

On the side of the European Parliament, the right, the social democrats and the centrists welcome and insist on the fact that the reception of migrants will be better organized and therefore more humane. However, these parties had to abandon one of their red lines, namely the placement of families in reception centers. A person close to the negotiations explains that if the text had set an age limit for children, this would have pushed smugglers to take families into the boats.

The Greens denounce a reform “unworthy” And “opposite“human rights. They consider the detention of migrants, children and families at borders unacceptable. Around fifty NGOs, including Amnesty and Oxfam, criticize a future policy”expensive and cruel” and fear that it simply does not work. The implementation of this migration pact will rely on its effective implementation by governments. This agreement must still be formally ratified by the Council and the Parliament to be adopted.