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Several repatriations of rejected asylum seekers from particularly Syria and Afghanistan may be on the way.
This is stated by EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner.
The announcement comes in connection with a meeting for the justice and interior ministers of EU countries on Tuesday.
– We see many voluntary returns from particularly Turkey to Syria. When we talk about forced repatriations, there is a particular focus on criminals who pose a threat to security.
– In Austria, it works, and the criminals are sent back to Syria, says Magnus Brunner.
It is still too early to carry out mass repatriations of Syrians, but it may happen in the long run, says Magnus Brunner.
– The situation in Syria is not stable enough to carry out mass repatriations, but we are constantly monitoring the development.
– We support the Syrian regime so that they can stabilize the situation in the country. Then repatriations will be possible in the future, says Magnus Brunner.
Also regarding Afghans, there are signs that EU countries may be on their way to send more back.
Germany is working on an agreement with the Taliban that will enable more regular repatriations via flights.
This agreement will be opened by Germany to other EU countries so they can get help to send rejected asylum seekers back.
The EU Commission supports this, states Magnus Brunner.
– It is completely in line with the spirit of Team Europe, says Magnus Brunner, referring to the EU’s approach to global action, where EU countries help each other and pool resources.
Also, the Minister for Immigration and Integration, Rasmus Stoklund (S), sees potential in the German announcement.
– It is incredibly positive that Germany invites cooperation in this area, says Rasmus Stoklund.
According to the EU Commission, only 25 percent of rejected asylum seekers are currently being sent out of the EU.
A situation that Brunner calls “unacceptable,” because people without residence permits create insecurity and strain the public resources of EU countries.
The increasing resistance to migration was emphasized on Tuesday when a number of EU countries said no to accepting asylum seekers as part of the EU’s solidarity mechanism.
Therefore, the EU Commission had to postpone a central report on migration on Tuesday.
According to the pact on migration and asylum, which came into force last year, the EU Commission must otherwise publish a report by October 15 that identifies the countries receiving a large number of migrants.
The report must also point out EU countries that are obliged to show solidarity.
This can either be done by hosting migrants or providing money to countries like Greece and Italy, where many migrants arrive.
However, the interior ministers of EU countries have the final word regarding how many migrants each country must accept or how large the compensation should be.
After immigration-critical parties have gained ground in several EU countries, there is, however, not much appetite for accepting asylum seekers.
Magnus Brunner downplays the postponement of the report.
– We are still in the consultation phase, says Brunner.
He instead focuses on the fact that there is “plenty of cooperation between EU countries and a willingness to create changes in the migration system.”
However, the desire for changes particularly concerns how more can be sent home rather than increased assistance to migrants, the EU Commissioner implies.