EU agrees on asylum reform – this is how the press in Europe reacts

European press reviews

“No one likes the controversial asylum reform”

Updated on April 11, 2024 – 11:49 a.m. Reading time: 3 min.

Europe: After years of discussion, the reform of European asylum law has been finalized. (Source: reuters)

After years of discussion, the reform of European asylum law has been finalized. This is how the unification in Europe is commented on.

For many years, the EU states have argued about European asylum law – now the EU Parliament has voted for reform. In particular, there are plans to deal much more harshly with people from countries that are considered relatively safe. This is how the European press reacts.

The “Leipziger Volkszeitung” writes: “The migration pact is an attempt to find a balance between responsibility and solidarity. A fair distribution of refugees is intended to relieve the burden on states such as Italy, Greece and Cyprus. But they will continue to bear the main burden in the future and in the many asylum centers that now have to spring up everywhere at the borders, decide on the further path of the refugees. Countries like Hungary and Poland, which have so far hardly accepted any refugees from the Mediterranean countries, are likely to often opt for the alternative: with a flat rate of 20,000 euros For each refugee they can buy their way out of admission. European solidarity looks different.”

The “Berliner Morgenpost” says: “Europe is finally moving on asylum policy. The EU is now relying on consistent controls at the external borders. And on deterring those irregular migrants for whom the right to asylum was never intended. Anyone who obviously has no chance of refugee protection should only stay in a camp for as short a time as possible stay and are quickly deported again. If everything goes well, the new course will curb this type of immigration without affecting the right to asylum for those in need of protection. At the same time, great care will have to be taken to ensure that human rights standards are adhered to at the external borders. But the truth is Also: The reform will not provide quick relief because the stricter rules will only take effect in two years. German politicians cannot wait for Europe, they must use their own leeway.”

The Spanish newspaper “ABC” comments: “The truth is that no one likes what has been agreed. The far right believes the reform is too weak, while the left and the Greens say it goes too far. The center, meanwhile, is dissatisfied with the balance that exists between the commitments from host countries such as Italy and Spain and economic aid from wealthy countries such as Germany. (…) The vote on the planned package was only possible thanks to the main pro-European parties – these are the Socialists and Democrats, the European People’s Party EPP and the Liberals by Renew Europe – successful. What is significant for the dissatisfaction is the fact that these parties failed to maintain voting discipline.”

The pro-government Hungarian daily newspaper “Magyar Nemzet” says: “Nobody cares about what this certain migration and asylum pact entails and what consequences it can lead to. For nine years (…) the EU has not known what to do with the migrant invasion. (…) In nine years it has proven with absolute clarity that inviting migrants, simply managing illegal migration, constantly putting out fires in the face of Western European city districts that have become dangerous are completely wrong steps. (…) Every European country would be able to protect itself if it that was what they wanted. The sea and land borders could be perfectly secured, even without huge border guard units. The technology for this exists, and anyone who thinks self-protection is important and spends the necessary money on it will use it. (…) In “Europe currently lacks the will and determination to create a serious community and let it function according to appropriate rules.”