From coffee and croissants straight to political pressure. Nineteen EU leaders used a pre-summit “migration breakfast” to urge the bloc to speed up the return of failed asylum seekers and take a tougher approach to irregular migration.
In a joint letter published ahead of the day 2 of the European Council summit, a group of 19 EU member states called on European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to press ahead with stricter migration measures. The signatories argue that European migration policy must deliver “concrete results that make a real difference for our citizens and move forward with solutions based in third countries as soon as possible”.
The letter was signed by the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
The group says Europe has already shifted the debate on migration significantly in recent years. “Together, we have redefined the European conversation about migration and reached broad consensus that we need a European migration policy that is both firm and fair,” the letter states. The objective, the signatories argue, is to protect social cohesion while continuing to offer protection to those who genuinely need it.
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Turning policy into results
The countries also welcomed the EU’s new return rules, designed to speed up and streamline the return of people who do not have the right to remain in the bloc. Discussions have also focused on so-called return hubs outside the EU, as well as other “innovative solutions” aimed at reducing irregular migration and increasing return rates.
“It always needs to be a democratic decision who can enter and stay in our countries,” the signatories wrote. They also warned against migrant smuggling networks, which they say generate billions of euros in profits, and against the use of migration as a tool of political pressure.
Focus on partnerships beyond Europe
According to the letter, a majority of member states now explore new forms of cooperation with third countries. The signatories therefore urge EU institutions to move quickly in implementing measures based on partnerships outside the bloc and to translate political agreements into practical action.
The appeal reflects a broader shift in EU migration policy. In recent months, the Union has advanced reforms of its asylum and migration system while developing new instruments aimed at increasing the return of people who do not qualify for international protection.
