Interior ministers meeting on migration: Europe’s doors remain closed

After the meeting of EU interior ministers it is clear: refugees and migrants are seen as a threat to which one reacts with walls and rejections. Europe’s doors remain closed for them.

Once again, the EU does not want to fail when it comes to Afghanistan. After the on-site fiasco, it is now imperative to prevent a situation like the one in 2015/2016 from occurring. At that time, millions of people entered the EU de facto uncontrolled. There were fierce debates about migration policy and right-wing populist parties gained support. In Germany alone, around 1.2 million people applied for asylum at the time. Many of them came from Syria, where a civil war had started in 2011.

Since then, the EU member states have upgraded their borders considerably: through fences, increased controls and high-tech devices such as the so-called sonic cannons on the Greek-Turkish border. Nevertheless, it is likely that even more people will try to come to Europe in the near future, where they want to organize themselves better this time.

Seldom so united

Indeed, the EU interior ministers have rarely been as quick and united as this time. Your declaration aims to prevent a humanitarian crisis for Afghanistan, as well as a new migration crisis and security threats to Europe. It relies on aid for the countries in the immediate vicinity of Afghanistan to ensure that the refugees receive adequate protection, especially in the region.

At the same time, the EU interior ministers want a coordinated approach to the fight against terrorism. Priority is also given to security checks on people brought to safety from Afghanistan. In addition, the interior ministers want uniform rules to process asylum applications from refugees from Afghanistan. In any case, it is questionable whether the relatively small number of Afghans who have come to Europe in the past few days will be allowed to apply for asylum.

Settlement only in the case of admission places that are offered

In Germany, for example, former local workers with their families and particularly vulnerable people are initially only given a residence permit. The resettlement of vulnerable people from Afghanistan should only take place if EU countries voluntarily offer admission places. The concept of Fortress Europe can always be better filled with concrete content. Refugees and migrants are seen as a threat to which one reacts with walls and rejections.

The question of whether such a tough attitude is a good thing will continue to heat up. The answer depends not least on whether the EU can finally agree on a functioning asylum system. The most controversial point here is the solidarity between the member countries when accepting migrants.

Step towards a common migration policy?

The EU Commission had already presented a compromise proposal in September last year, which contained at least a few new approaches. The fact that, after the ongoing disputes, mutual accusations and drastic solo efforts, at least the EU interior ministers now take a common position is perhaps a step towards a common migration policy in which humanity is balanced with displaced persons and the safeguarding of European interests.