EDP Position Paper
Migration: Real Solutions, Not False Promises
Values and Security: We Can Have Both
The idea that we must choose between security and our values is a false dichotomy. Europe can be both secure and humane. Upholding human rights and maintaining the safety of our borders can go hand in hand. We do not need to turn to illegal and compassionless solutions which undermine the values which make Europe a moral leader in the world. Instead, it is both necessary and possible that we adopt policies which align with and do not undermine our European values.
Our response to migration must be comprehensive and rooted in solidarity, not based on fear or political expediency. It’s time for the EU to embrace real solutions that respect our shared values. We must rely on and improve the tools that are already at our disposal while also offering the European people solutions that emphasise integration measures, border security and solidarity between the Member States.
Integration: The Key to Success
Successful integration demands a comprehensive approach that begins at the local level. We must establish mandatory language learning programs that give newcomers the means to participate fully in the communities they join. Local authorities must be empowered and resourced to develop and implement effective integration policies. Cities and mayors must take the lead in creating clear pathways to integration with programs that align with local labour market needs. Special attention must be paid to unaccompanied minors and young people, ensuring they receive the support and guidance needed to build successful futures in Europe.
Stop Reinventing the Wheel – Use the Tools We Have
We already have a clearly defined legal framework to manage migration, with the new EU Asylum and Migration Pact. Instead of reinventing the wheel or chasing after ill-conceived alternatives, we must focus on fully implementing the tools we’ve created. And we must do it very fast. Right here, right now. This includes accelerating asylum processes, ensuring fair burden-sharing among Member States, and enforcing the rules we’ve already agreed upon to simplify and accelerate asylum procedures. Further, all Member States should adopt their National Implementation Plans by the end of this year, so we can have a clear idea of the specific measures that each country will implement. We can’t afford to sit around for two more years waiting for these vital changes. It’s time to act – we need faster ways to process asylum claims, stop asylum seekers from jumping between countries, and make sure every EU nation pulls its weight.
Fix the Returns System
With only around 20% of migrants ordered to return actually being repatriated, it’s clear that the current system is not working. The current return system dates from 2008, so it requires urgent reform and modernisation. We must establish streamlined procedures for regularised returns that respect both efficiency and human dignity, and fund these sufficiently. This requires enhanced cooperation with countries of origin, building lasting partnerships that facilitate the return process. The implementation of digital tools will speed up case management and reduce bureaucratic delays. We must also establish clear obligations for those subject to return orders, ensuring a transparent and fair process. Those migrants willing to return voluntarily, who are increasing in number in recent years, should also be taken into account. Their cases must always be handled through a framework which respects the migrants’ specific needs, protects their rights and preserves their dignity.
Partnerships with Third Countries and working with the UN
We must fundamentally reshape our relationships with countries of origin through partnerships based on equal footing and mutual respect. These partnerships should focus on economic cooperation that delivers tangible benefits to all parties involved, while at the same time ensuring the respect of human rights in countries of origin. They must also strengthen our capacity for managing returns effectively, establishing clear protocols and procedures that respect both our partners’ sovereignty and our need for efficient migration management.
The EU should establish training and educational programs tailored to key sectors in countries of origin. These initiatives can provide tools and resources, particularly for young people, enabling them to access greater professional opportunities within their own countries. This approach will reduce large-scale migration to Europe driven by the pursuit of a better future.
Additionally, Europe must look to the UN first when it comes to dealing with migration, as this is one of the EU’s most vital partners who is responsible for dealing with international migrant flows. We call for enhanced EU-UN cooperation in peacekeeping and humanitarian action, recognising that stability in regions of origin is crucial for managing migration flows. Development programs must address the root causes of migration, creating opportunities for people in their home countries.
Solidarity
We urgently need real solidarity between Member States and regions because we can no longer afford to let individual regions bear disproportionate burdens alone. When one region faces unprecedented pressure, all of Europe must respond with concrete support and resource sharing. For example, the Canary Islands have seen a sharp increase in the number of people arriving by sea to immigrate to Europe. They are one of the main entry points to Europe for West Africans, and it means that the number of irregular migrant arrivals in Spain almost doubled last year: almost 40,000 African migrants passed through the Canary Islands in 2023. The Spanish government had to come up with emergency solutions to accommodate the new arrivals. The response must be European.
A robust solidarity mechanism among all EU Member States is also essential to address the significant challenge posed by unaccompanied minors arriving at the EU’s borders, ensuring that the responsibility for their reception is shared equitably, rather than being borne solely by the regions’ authorities. This system must guarantee the full respect of children’s rights, providing comprehensive protection and the necessary care and support they require.
Real Solutions for Strong Border Control and Security
We propose concrete actions to regain control of our borders. Our comprehensive approach begins with the implementation of cutting-edge AI solutions, supported by drone surveillance and satellite monitoring systems. We call for strengthened Frontex operations with increased budget and personnel, ensuring our external borders are properly managed. We must significantly increase our investment in border personnel, strengthening both police and customs operations.
To reduce the burden that migrant flows place on our border personnel, we must also invest in our ability to quickly process asylum requests at the border. Essential to our success is enhanced communication and cooperation between border countries, creating a unified response to shared challenges. This must be coupled with improved coordination between police and intelligence services across member states to create an effective, multi-layered security approach.
No to Gimmicks and Offshore Asylum Centres
Proposals like offshoring asylum seekers to countries outside the EU are both illegal and morally wrong. It’s not by putting migrants and people seeking asylum behind walls in foreign countries that solutions are found.
These schemes are not just ineffective – they also violate international and EU law. They shift responsibility onto non-EU countries with little oversight, creating lawless zones that remind us of Europe’s darkest hours. They leave migrants vulnerable to human rights abuses; Europe cannot claim to stand for democracy and human rights if we continue to pursue these policies. They do not address the root causes of low return rates, like difficulties in obtaining travel documents and establishing nationality. These false solutions fail to address the root causes of migration and instead waste taxpayer money on costly, unsustainable approaches that merely push the problem out of sight.
The EU undoubtedly faces significant challenges in managing migration, but we must resist the temptation of fake fixes that abandon our core values. We have been consistent and clear from the start: proposals like the Meloni hubs are a misguided approach that we denounced from day one. It is possible to be effective without compromising what makes us European. The so-called “new solutions” being proposed today, like deals with Albania or Uganda, are dangerous shortcuts that undermine our principles and the rule of law and do not ensure any concrete improvement. False promises and fake fixes do nothing but deceive our citizens and waste precious time when real solutions are needed.
What was illegal in 2018 does not become legal simply because far-right forces are gaining power in Europe. This is certainly true for the hubs in countries of transit. How can the illegal solutions according to the EU Commission in 2018 can become a way for Europe in 2024? We have repeatedly warned against these deceptive proposals that offer no real solutions while undermining our legal framework.
Conclusion: A Clear Path Forward
We stand for controlled, intelligent migration that serves Europe’s interests while upholding our values. This means establishing clear and legal pathways for migration while ensuring meaningful integration programs for those who arrive. It requires unprecedented cooperation between EU member states and the development of strong partnerships with third countries.
The migration challenge is real, and that’s precisely why we must address it with honest, effective policies that remain true to our humanist values while ensuring the security and prosperity of our continent. It is imperative that these policies be coupled with measures that tackle social, linguistic and civic integration challenges migrants face.
We do not need new, risky experiments to manage migration for the sake of propaganda or easy domestic consensus. What Europe needs is the political courage to implement real solutions, not false promises. The time for empty rhetoric is over. We must act now with determination and firmness to create a migration system that works for all Europeans while staying true to our fundamental values.
EDP Delegation at the European Parliament
