(Article for the newspaper of the Model of the Council of the European Union)
Politics involve debates and setting alliances. Even though most countries’ representatives might not agree in some points, at the end it is usual to find a common ground from where to start to work together. The European Union was formed with that idea: to provide a space of discussion and find what it’s best for every country. In this context, this past week, the Members of the Council of the European Union got together to discuss two of the most important topics in the international agenda: Common Procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection to refugees and the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers.
The Commissioner Anastasia Granito stated that even though the refugee crisis is connected to different areas of the world, it can be said that Europe has the duty to establish “common procedures” and a “common solution” in order to collaborate and cooperate to defend the human being.
After checking that there were 21 members present out of 28, each Minister expressed their concerns and perspectives regarding the Asylum process. There were mainly two positions: the first one asked for common procedures to face a “worldwide problem that cannot be restricted to the European area”. The representative of Germany, Julieta Suárez, remarked the humanitarian part of the crisis, setting the idea of facing the “global and moral challenge” together.
The second group marked that it is dangerous to maintain a policy that keeps affecting different aspects of the European community as they see risks in possible entrance of terrorists.
To conclude, Greece stated that there is no more room for emergency plans as it is time for a long term strategy with “common policies, coordination and cooperation” among the Members.
During this first meeting, six amendments were proposed but only four got approved and will be included in the Directive. These were related to creating a refugee database; a commission of experts to determinate redistribution of refugees; control and protection of the borders and transit areas; and for a prohibition to the refugees for leaving the country processing their asylum request.
The opening speech from the head of the draft about seasonal workers, Francesco Carboni, explained that Europe is facing an “aging challenge” as people are getting older but population is not growing fast enough to cover the “shortage of labor”. According to him, this is a problem that should not be underestimated as it is important to harmonize the system to preserve immigrants’ rights. Afterwards, each Minister presented their country’s perspective. Most of them remarked the idea of keeping an open-door policy and setting common procedures while maintaining a room for manoeuvre. Germany’s Minister set the grounds by saying that legal migration is fundamental for each country for economic development, stating that “Europe has both the capacity and the experience to rise to the challenge”.
On one hand, some Members established that their countries agree with the “need of a common policy” as it is important to give the applicants “the same possibility to work” and also to “avoid economic and social exploitation”. On the other, the rest marked the risk of this type of workers as their employment might be a “way to promote immigration”. In this sense, the Ministers of Luxembourg, Poland and Romania commented their fears about safety, the idea of the workers not going back home “after the end of the permit” and the interest of them not displacing European labor. The United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands’ representatives also added that, even though they are open to discussion, there is a need of a “more strict legislation” to avoid “temporary stay becoming permanent” while not losing their sovereignties.
All these concerns were debated before the announcement of new amendments related to an obligation for the countries to provide measures to prevent possible abuses and to sanction infringements; the creation of an EU-wide online platform and booklets grouping seasonal workers’ rights in their native language; the supervision and assistance of workers accommodation’s standards to guarantee their well-being. Also, some suggested that there should be a consideration regarding the inclusion of the third-country workers that reside in the country to the Article 2; while others advised to add “the holder is suspected of being a national threat” to Article 9.
At the closure of this edition, the amendments were still being discussed as the Ministers will proceed to vote once finalized the expositions.
The Commissioner Anastasia Granito stated that even though the refugee crisis is connected to different areas of the world, it can be said that Europe has the duty to establish “common procedures” and a “common solution” in order to collaborate and cooperate to defend the human being.
After checking that there were 21 members present out of 28, each Minister expressed their concerns and perspectives regarding the Asylum process. There were mainly two positions: the first one asked for common procedures to face a “worldwide problem that cannot be restricted to the European area”. The representative of Germany, Julieta Suárez, remarked the humanitarian part of the crisis, setting the idea of facing the “global and moral challenge” together.
The second group marked that it is dangerous to maintain a policy that keeps affecting different aspects of the European community as they see risks in possible entrance of terrorists.
To conclude, Greece stated that there is no more room for emergency plans as it is time for a long term strategy with “common policies, coordination and cooperation” among the Members.
During this first meeting, six amendments were proposed but only four got approved and will be included in the Directive. These were related to creating a refugee database; a commission of experts to determinate redistribution of refugees; control and protection of the borders and transit areas; and for a prohibition to the refugees for leaving the country processing their asylum request.
The opening speech from the head of the draft about seasonal workers, Francesco Carboni, explained that Europe is facing an “aging challenge” as people are getting older but population is not growing fast enough to cover the “shortage of labor”. According to him, this is a problem that should not be underestimated as it is important to harmonize the system to preserve immigrants’ rights. Afterwards, each Minister presented their country’s perspective. Most of them remarked the idea of keeping an open-door policy and setting common procedures while maintaining a room for manoeuvre. Germany’s Minister set the grounds by saying that legal migration is fundamental for each country for economic development, stating that “Europe has both the capacity and the experience to rise to the challenge”.
On one hand, some Members established that their countries agree with the “need of a common policy” as it is important to give the applicants “the same possibility to work” and also to “avoid economic and social exploitation”. On the other, the rest marked the risk of this type of workers as their employment might be a “way to promote immigration”. In this sense, the Ministers of Luxembourg, Poland and Romania commented their fears about safety, the idea of the workers not going back home “after the end of the permit” and the interest of them not displacing European labor. The United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands’ representatives also added that, even though they are open to discussion, there is a need of a “more strict legislation” to avoid “temporary stay becoming permanent” while not losing their sovereignties.
All these concerns were debated before the announcement of new amendments related to an obligation for the countries to provide measures to prevent possible abuses and to sanction infringements; the creation of an EU-wide online platform and booklets grouping seasonal workers’ rights in their native language; the supervision and assistance of workers accommodation’s standards to guarantee their well-being. Also, some suggested that there should be a consideration regarding the inclusion of the third-country workers that reside in the country to the Article 2; while others advised to add “the holder is suspected of being a national threat” to Article 9.
At the closure of this edition, the amendments were still being discussed as the Ministers will proceed to vote once finalized the expositions.
