The EU, ‘let’s move forward with repatriations’. Piantedosi: ‘centers in Albania a model’

At the urging of the Danish presidency, the ministers of the 27, gathered in Copenhagen for the informal Council of Home Affairs, reiterated that the trend regarding the migration dossier has changed in Europe. In the autumn, the EU aims to conclude negotiations on the new concept of a safe country. “The European asylum system needs to be reformed,” stated the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner.

Denmark has made tightening migration flows one of its top priorities. The ‘hawks’ group, led among others by Giorgia Meloni, has gained new momentum from Berlin’s involvement. On July 18, the interior ministers of Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic – with Brunner himself present – met at the top of Zugspitze, promising more repatriations to Syria and Afghanistan.

“I don’t believe that the mentality of ‘wir schaffen das’ (‘we can do it’) has brought anything good to the European continent,” emphasized the Danish Minister for Migration, Kaare Dybvad Bek, referring to the migration policy of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On the agenda of the meeting in Denmark, the recent Pact on Migration and Asylum also appeared outdated. “The foundations are solid, but there are missing pieces,” Brunner limited himself to saying. In Copenhagen, Italy, with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, emphasized that the centers in Albania “are a model for the EU, we are convinced we are heading in the right direction.”

Brunner, for his part, confirmed the openness to hubs for repatriations in third countries – the so-called “innovative solutions” – going beyond the Italian model and explaining that he is considering the Dutch idea of opening centers in Uganda. Under one condition: “That EU, international, and humanitarian law is respected,” the commissioner specified (July 22).