Almost a week after the Interior Ministers of the European Union met without certifying the agreement, the countries were finally able to give the green light yesterday to the last remaining obstacle to closing the Migration and Asylum pact. With this step, negotiations with the European Parliament can begin.
With this regulation, which in the end had the endorsement of Italy (several diplomatic sources pointed out that an agreement could not be had without the country most affected by the arrivals of migrants), questions are closed about how to act in the event of a massive arrival of migrants. migrants. Specifically, it was approved that the registration of asylum applications does not last more than four weeks; In addition, support was given for there being no mandatory quotas, countries will be free to welcome asylum seekers or, failing that, contribute to the payment of their maintenance in another country, with the sending of experts to accelerate asylum registrations. or support the return of migrants, in case they do not have the right.
At the meeting six days ago, Germany decided to lift its veto on what is known as the crisis management regulation. At a delicate moment for the country, with a record of asylum requests. With the approval of Berlin, the necessary majority of countries was thus achieved. This was certified by Spain, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council. But in a last-minute gesture, Italy blocked its final ratification and asked for more time.
Rome was uncomfortable with a point in the text that ensured that NGOs that rescue migrants cannot be accused of “instrumentalizing” immigration when there is no objective of destabilizing the European Union or a Member State, a concession that the presidency had made. Spanish to convince Germany. The movement did not please Rome, where the Government of Giorgia Meloni and the political impact of the issue in the midst of a major crisis due to the arrivals of migrants in the last year made it difficult to approve it so quickly.
Even so, both the Commissioner for the Interior, Ylva Johanson, and the Spanish Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who represented the rotating presidency of the Council, were convinced that the measure would end up being approved before the Granada summit, which will take place. celebrates later this week, where migration will be a hot topic.
With the agreement reached yesterday, the countries face the final stretch to approve the Migration and Asylum pact. They will now have to negotiate the agreement with the European Parliament, with a view to closing it before the end of the year or, at the latest, in January 2024.
