Fortress Europe: Meloni’s line on migrant repatriation sets a precedent in the EU

Brussels–The new Pact on Migration and Asylum–that has yet to come into force — sanctioning the focus on migration’s “external dimension” is no longer enough: EU member states are already pushing for an increasingly rigid migration policy. As Schengen teeters, chancelleries would like to see a further crackdown on returns of irregular migrants, physically removing them. Thus, the “new Europe” that Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to lead for another five years leaves behind respect for human rights and increasingly resembles a fortress, the walls of which could soon be erected beyond its own borders.

Almost all elections held in the 27 member states – from the European ones to national ones in Austria and German states – have shifted the European political center of gravity decisively to the right, leading to the entry of extreme right-wing formations into the area of government in many countries (or at least their approaching power). Confirming this trend is the new von der Leyen Commission with a record of 15 members belonging to the Populars (EPP) and, for the first time, an executive vice-president from the Conservatives (ECR), Italy’s Raffaele Fitto.

In the next few years, one of the most striking imbalances will occur in migration policy, where we can expect a tightening of EU rules. The approval of the New Pact on Asylum and Migration, one of the last initiatives of the outgoing legislature, gave a glimpse of the direction in which the Union was moving at an accelerated pace. According to some media reports, the interior ministers of about fifteen or so member states (including two heavyweights, France and Germany) will explore expedients to “improve” the system of returns of irregular migrants when they meet in Luxembourg tomorrow (Oct. 10) for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. They are expected to place on the table a revision – in a restrictive sense – of the Return Directive, which in its current form dates back to 2008 and is now regarded by more than one party as widely insufficient.

The issue is increasingly relevant. Yesterday (Oct. 8), Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán explicitly backed the creation of “hotspots outside the EU” where to hold (or rather, detain) asylum seekers while their applications are being processed, along the model of the infamous return holding centers (Cpr) established by the Italian government in Albania. Hungary, which has the rotating EU presidency, will use the discussions at the Council as the basis for the summit of European leaders scheduled for Oct. 17-18. According to Eurostat data, in 2023, more than 484 thousand third-country nationals were ordered to leave the Union’s territory; of these, just under 19 percent were repatriated.

After all, it is no secret that, over the past two years, Giorgia Meloni has heavily influenced Brussels on migration, at least judging by the frequent presence of Commission President von der Leyen alongside the prime minister (see, for example, in Tunisia and Egypt). Hence, another idea the ministers of the 27 member states should discuss is strengthening partnerships with third countries to address the “root causes” of irregular migration and stipulating repatriation agreements to send back people European governments don’t want in their territory.

Meanwhile, the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) just condemned Cyprus for the illegal deportation of a group of Syrian migrants to Lebanon, from which they were trying to reach the EU. According to the judges, the behavior of the Cypriot authorities, who intercepted the refugees on the high seas and refused to consider them refugees (instead deeming them to be economic migrants), was inhumane and degrading and a violation of the prohibition of torture.

While they wait for collective decisions, some member states have already unilaterally taken steps to build their national fortresses. The most sensational case recently —  but only the latest in order of time – is that of Germany, whose center-left government has closed all its land borders with neighboring countries on the grounds of security concerns following the Solingen bombing. According to Berlin, the move produced the desired results, causing a drop in asylum applications.

So much for the good old Schengen space, which chancelleries continually suspend and reactivate according to the needs of the moment. It will be another item on the table tomorrow in Luxembourg. So while Bulgaria and Romania seek full entry, the area that theoretically is meant to be for free movement is being undermined from within.