Nearly ten years have passed since Germany's then-Chancellor Angela Merkel promised her famous "wir schaffen dass" (we'll manage it) during the major refugee crisis in 2015. She saw it as both morally right and politically possible to take care of those who wanted to come to the EU, primarily from the war in Syria.
But now the situation is different. The Ukraine war and pandemic have shaken the economy, and high-profile violent crimes committed by asylum seekers and migrants have led the far-right to grow in popularity.
This has led both Germany and France to join countries that demand tougher measures in migration policy.
We must not exclude any solutions, says France's new Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on his way to an EU ministerial meeting with a strong focus on migration in Luxembourg on Thursday.
"Interesting"
Sweden is among those pushing for change and has, together with 16 other countries inside and outside the EU, turned to the EU Commission with demands for more effective ways to deport people who do not have the right to stay in the EU.
There is growing support for setting up detention centers outside the EU – perhaps in some country in Western Balkan – where deportees can be held until they can be sent home.
This idea of having return centers, we think is interesting. But it must, of course, take place in full accordance with all international regulations. And there must be a willingness from that country to do it, says Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) on site in Luxembourg.
Exceptions?
Some countries want to go much further. Hungary has long pushed for all asylum and migration handling to take place outside the EU. Hungary and the Netherlands have also both requested exemptions from the EU's common asylum policy to be able to act on their own and avoid the asylum and migration pact that the EU finally agreed on in the spring.
But Sweden does not agree.
We are skeptical. On the contrary: we must implement this migration pact. It is a big step forward, and then to come and say that one does not want to participate, that is naturally not possible, says Johan Forssell in Luxembourg.
Here are some of the ideas being discussed among EU countries in the area of migration:
* Update and sharpen the EU's return directive.
It is not optional to return or not. It should be very clear that one must do it. The wording is not sharp enough today, says Migration Minister Johan Forssell.
* Set up return centers in countries outside the EU.
* Handle all asylum applications in centers outside the EU.
* Use EU funds for physical border barriers at the EU's external borders.
* Withdraw aid or make trade more difficult with countries that do not want to take back deported citizens.
If we are to cooperate with them, then these countries must cooperate with us, says Forssell.
Migration is expected to be a major topic when EU leaders hold a summit in Brussels next week.
