Luxembourg Reports Substantial Migratory Pressure, Calls for 'Real' EU Migration Policy

On Friday 14 October 2022, Luxembourg's Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Jean Asselborn, attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council (Council of the European Union) meeting at the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL).

The European Commission and the Frontex agency initially took stock of the migratory pressure on all the migratory routes, noting a considerable increase in migratory flows. Migration pressure is now reaching pre-pandemic levels. In this context, the Czech presidency of the Council of the EU has proposed priority measures to improve the protection of the external borders.

For his part, Minister Asselborn reported substantial migratory pressure in Luxembourg, noting an increase in arrivals of Syrian nationals, as well as other nationalities, through secondary movements from the Western Balkan route. Among these arrivals are many young unaccompanied minors.

Minister Asselborn stressed that the management of external borders is decisive for all the Schengen countries. In this respect, systematic registration in the Eurodac system, as soon as possible and as close as possible to the external borders, is essential, according to the minister. He added that the burden on the countries of first entry must be compensated by "solid solidarity measures". Minister Asselborn went on to stress "that the internal borders of the EU should not be closed, since the cost is too high for our citizens, our economies and the environment". The European Commission, together with the Member States concerned, must put in place alternative measures, in order "not to break one of the fundamental achievements of the EU, which is so dear to our citizens", the minister continued.

At the working lunch, the EU ministers discussed the measures to be taken to contain the migratory pressure on the Western Balkan route. Minister Asselborn congratulated the EU and its Member States on their management of the crisis related to the war in Ukraine, particularly in terms of reception. However, he was critical of the treatment of migrants and refugees from other third countries. "The European Union needs a real European migration policy. A multitude of divergent national policies produces the result that we know", he said, before adding that it is essential that the countries of the Western Balkans align their visa policy as soon as possible with that of the EU. New waves of migration of people not entitled to international protection risk becoming fertile ground for nationalist movements, argued Minister Asselborn.

Finally, the last working session made it possible to discuss reforms in terms of asylum and solidarity. For Luxembourg, the balance between solidarity and responsibility is decisive. The states of first entry have concrete needs and they will have to be assisted in order to meet their demands. Work on the asylum and migration pact will not be successful without fair burden sharing, to Minister Asselborn.