The EU In a Bind Over Virus and Refugee Arrivals

Translation by Fousesquawk




The below article running today in El Pais (Spain) concerns the problems being faced by the EU when it comes to accepting migrants and refugees during the Corona virus crisis. At this time the EU has closed its external borders and some member states have also closed their borders to crossings from other neighboring countries.


https://elpais.com/internacional/2020-04-17/bruselas-admite-la-paralisis-del-sistema-de-acogida-y-reparto-de-refugiados-por-la-pandemia.html



Caption below picture:
A barge with migrants in the Mediterranean destined to EuropeONG SEA EYE / EFE


Brussels warns of paralysis of the system of (migrant) reception and distribution of refugees due to the pandemic

The border closings complicates the management of the EU migrant policy which leads the European Commission to ask the (EU) countries for "flexibility" in order to insure the health and the rights of people.

-Lluis Pelecer, Brussels, 17 April 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has put the already precarious migrant policy of the EU back on the ropes. The European Commission admits that arrival and distribution of refugees and return of illegal immigrants to their countries are becoming compromised, if not paralyzed, due to the closure of borders or the drastic reduction of commercial flights. Brussels is asking the 27 (member countries) for "flexibility" to proceed with the measures in progress and not to endanger the health and rights of the migrants.

The exterior border closings of the EU and controls between member countries due to the Covid-19 are complicating the management of the migrant policy. To that is added the closing of ports of Italy and Malta, who this Friday, denounced the NGOs who are carrying out rescues of migrants in the Mediterranean and the deterioration of conditions at the border between Greece and Turkey since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to push thousands of refugees toward Europe. According to the European Border Agency (Frontex), the arrival of illegal immigrants to the continent fell to half of the previous month.

In a communication approved this week, the Commission admits that the pandemic has had "direct consequences" in the mechanisms of (EU) asylum and distribution. The internal restrictions in the EU have practically paralyzed the system of transfers of migrants endorsed in the Dublin Regulation. The agreement gives the responsibility of an asylum-seeker to the country through which he/she entered the EU, except if he/she can be accepted under criteria such as family reunification or residence.

The authorities of the country in which the request has been made has 6 months to transfer that migrant to that country through which he/she arrived in Europe. If not, the responsibility becomes theirs. According to the Commission, during the month of March, this occurred with 1,000 persons who asked for international protection. Brussels estimates, in addition, that up to June 1, this will happen with another 5,000 persons. A spokesperson of EU Executive (office) acknowledged  the complexity of the system. "In general, the possibility of suspension of the transfers is not envisioned in the Dublin regulation," he acknowledged.

 The EU set aside the new legislative package to approach migration in Europe until after Holy Week, but there is no date. Spain, Germany, France and Italy have sent a letter to the European Commission not to stop this work. According to what is published by Politico, the 4 countries asked  for the creation of a "binding measure" for a "just distribution", keeping in mind also when a member country has a "disproportionate" pressure. The same spokesperson confirmed that it had received the letter, but did not want to comment on it.

Brussels asked all of the countries to resume the transfers under the Dublin system when possible. And (Brussels) reminds them that nobody is preventing them from making bi-lateral agreements to retake those who remain pending at a later time.  The Commission asks that  these pacts be reached especially when it concerns cases of family reunification or of unaccompanied minors, who are also among those 1,000 migrants.

The covid-19 outbreak has also halted the resettlement of refugees in the EU foreseen for 2020. In December, Brussels announced that there would be 29,500 free spots. Nevertheless, the Commission noted that the member States, the International Organization for Migration (OIM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (ACNUR) have "temporarily suspended" those operations, so  the acceptance of refugees in the EU is currently halted.

Processing of asylum requests

Brussels admits in a communication published this week that many countries have reported the closure of (offices) that process asylum requests or that they may be accessed only through previous notification or by electronic communication. Some of them have reported that the registration of requests is suspended or only permitted for cases of vulnerable persons. The Commission understands delays for reason of protection, but requests that the cases that arrive not be left unattended. For that reason, it again requires "maximum flexibility" from those countries including avoiding proceedings like personal interviews in case the asylum-seeker may be infected with covid-19. If necessary, the EU Executive (office) recommends using online mechanisms, like video conferences.