The Evolving European Migration Landscape: A Fresh Perspective
Agency head declares migration issue has surpassed critical point yet remains significant
Michael Spindelegger, head of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and a former Austrian MEP, shares his insights on Europe's migration policy in an exclusive interview with our site. After a decade at the helm of ICMPD, Spindelegger believes that, despite a drop in irregular migration this year, Europe can't afford to relax its efforts in managing migration.
"We're no longer in an exceptional situation," Spindelegger notes from the Vienna office of the agency. "But with almost a million asylum applications last year, we can't afford to chill out."
Despite the political friction migratory issues continue to cause in many countries, Spindelegger maintains that Europe is in need of a "balanced and creative" approach to migration policy. One intriguing model he supports is Italy's initiative to process asylum seekers in Albania — an "innovative" scheme legally distinct from the UK's Rwanda plan.
Indeed, while Italy's plan is still underway, if it proves successful, it might serve as a model for other European countries. According to Spindelegger, one key advantage of this approach is that it keeps responsibility with Italy's authorities, ensuring the legality and integrity of the process.
On the topic of proposals from countries like Denmark that have had run-ins with the European Convention on Human Rights, Spindelegger remains open-minded. "Everyone is encouraged to explore intelligent, modern methods of dealing with migration," he says.
Denmark, for example, has experimented with policies ranging from financially incentivizing migrants to return to their home countries to the so-called "ghetto law" aiming to discourage the concentration of ethnic minorities in certain neighbourhoods.
The European Migration and Asylum Pact, a substantial shift in the EU's migration policy, has been a contentious subject among member states. Despite strong opposition from Hungary, Poland, and the Netherlands, Spindelegger considers the pact a "big step forward" and dismisses claims that it is unraveling.
He emphasizes that national initiatives like Italy's do not conflict with the pact, primarily designed to streamline asylum processes and bolster border controls. Regarding the issue of returning migrants to "safe" countries, Spindelegger acknowledges the complexity, particularly in the case of Syria. Nevertheless, he believes that EU states should engage directly with Syrian authorities before considering broader policy changes, urging caution against hasty decisions.
EU ministers are set to meet in Luxembourg next week to discuss migration and asylum issues.
In-Depth Insights:
- The EU Migration and Asylum Pact aims to reform the EU's migration and asylum system, with measures focusing on border management, improved asylum procedures, and enhanced cooperation with third countries. Recently, the EU has emphasized a more uniform approach to returns, proposing a new regulation to make return decisions more binding across member states and introducing stricter obligations for third-country nationals to cooperate with enforcement authorities.
- Italy's asylum processing plans in Albania could represent a potential model for external processing and cooperation with third countries, including discussions on "return hubs" and outsourcing asylum procedures to non-EU states.
- Denmark has implemented a range of strict migration policies, aligning with a broader trend across Europe. While specific details about Denmark's current policies within the context of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact are not readily available, Denmark is known for exploring external solutions, such as offshoring asylum procedures.
- Some other EU migration initiatives include extending temporary protection for Ukrainians, supporting voluntary returns and reintegration, and coordinating efforts to outsource migration control with non-EU states.
The evolving European migration landscape, as discussed by Michael Spindelegger, requires a "balanced and creative" approach to policy-and-legislation, with politics playing a significant role in shaping these policies. General news highlights ongoing discussions about the European Migration and Asylum Pact, Italy's innovative asylum processing plans in Albania, and Denmark's experiments with strict migration policies.
