European Union countries are in trouble over “sharing the burdens of migrants”

Which EU countries face the greatest pressure from migration? This question is deeply divisive among member states struggling to reach an agreement by the end of the year on how to redistribute at least 30,000 asylum seekers across the bloc.

The 27-nation European Union adopted a comprehensive reform of immigration policies in 2024, which will take effect soon. A key element of this reform is a new “solidarity” system for managing the affairs of asylum seekers, which aims to reduce the burden on countries on the front lines, such as Spain, Greece and Italy.

In general, member states are divided into different categories, and Brussels could consider some countries to be under “migration pressure”, based on criteria such as the number of illegal arrivals and sea rescue operations.

Countries that are not under significant pressure will be required to either receive a share of asylum seekers from countries under pressure, or to provide financial support of 20,000 euros per person.

And here the problem begins: How do we determine who qualifies as “under pressure”?

A source within the European Commission, which is charged with classifying countries into categories, said: “You can see in the political discourse that everyone feels they are under pressure to migrate.” Member States are lobbying hard to influence the methodology used.

In recent days, for example, Sweden pointed to the 300,000 asylum applications it had received over the past decade as a high number for a “medium-sized country.”

Belgium confirms that its “migrant reception centers are full,” while Germany stressed that it has received more than a million Ukrainian refugees since the outbreak of war with Russia in 2022.

Meanwhile, France has stressed its sea rescue operations for migrants trying to cross the English Channel to the United Kingdom. The Commission is expected to reveal its proposal next week, after a delay of about a month.

This will form the basis for negotiations between member states about the number of additional asylum seekers each country is willing to accept, or the amount of financial support it is prepared to provide.

At least 30,000 migrants will need to be resettled each year under the new system, with a decision on the destinations of these refugees to be made by the end of December, but with EU governments under pressure to tighten immigration policies, accepting more asylum seekers carries political risks.

“It’s a very difficult balance,” said Camille Lucoz, head of the Center for Migration Policy Research in Europe. She added that the matter is becoming more difficult, because “countries do not trust each other on this issue.”

Several countries, including Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, accuse the frontline countries of allowing migrants to move to the European Union, instead of processing their asylum claims as required by EU law. Countries on the front lines reject this charge.

An EU diplomat, who requested anonymity to discuss this sensitive issue, said: “The Germans are in a state of tension. “There are tensions with the Italians and Greeks over this issue.” He added: “It is not easy, because everyone is watching each other and wondering: Will the other member state get a better deal?” About “The Japan Times”

. Countries not under significant pressure will be required to either take in a quota of asylum seekers from countries under pressure, or provide financial support of €20,000 per person.