On June 25, 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU leaders outlining a strategy for managing migration over the coming years. While the letter highlights measures to strengthen border security, streamline asylum procedures, and foster international cooperation, it has also sparked significant criticism for perpetuating a fundamentally flawed approach to migration.
Critics argue that von der Leyen’s strategy continues to rely heavily on externalizing migration control, forming deals with non-EU countries to reduce migration flows in exchange for financial incentives.
Michele LeVoy, Director of PICUM, aptly summarizes the humanitarian concerns: “This letter shows how the EU persists in its harmful approach to migration. Deals to externalize migration are extremely inhumane, disregard the realities and reasons for international mobility, and violate international laws and values on which Europe is supposedly based. Europe must understand that migration is part of how our societies grow and thrive. The question is how we can build a world where people move and settle in safety and dignity, not how we can fight them.”
These deals, such as recent agreements with Tunisia and Egypt, have been criticized for their lack of transparency and ethical considerations. By outsourcing border control to countries with questionable human rights records, the EU risks violating international standards and exacerbating the plight of migrants who are often subjected to inhumane conditions in transit and detention.
Hamed Karimi, a refugee researcher, further critiques the EU’s prioritization of economic interests over humanitarian obligations: “It appears that a consensus has emerged within the European Union, prioritizing the migration of specialists while restricting the entry of refugees into Europe. However, the reality is that building walls and adopting an aggressive stance towards refugees is a shortsighted approach. The true forward-looking solution lies in addressing the root causes of crises among the world’s economic powers, which ultimately create refugees. Politicians often obscure this fact. Refugees are victims of broader systemic issues that originate beyond national borders.”
Von der Leyen’s letter also underscores a preference for skilled migrants, which, while beneficial for the EU’s labor market, neglects the urgent humanitarian need to provide safe havens for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution. This selective approach fails to address the systemic issues driving migration, such as economic inequality, climate change, and geopolitical instability.
In conclusion, while the EU’s efforts to manage migration through enhanced border security and streamlined procedures are understandable, the overall strategy remains fundamentally flawed.
