Yesterday, 23 September 2020, the European Commission announced the long-awaited new Pact on Migration and Asylum, proposing a new set of legal frameworks and a wide range of tools to ensure “a common governance for migration” and “better strategic planning”. In particular, the new pact contains a new "solidarity and responsibility" mechanism, adopting a system of "flexible contributions" from EU nations, which member states are no longer obliged to accept asylum seekers and refugees, but can instead manage their return. As an “incentive” to take in asylum seekers or refugees, countries would benefit from a €10,000 aid for each adult.
Fernando Aguiar, BIC Strategic Adviser on Conflict and EU Politics said: “Migration has long been a decisive issue for many countries in the European Union. The new Pact on Migration and Asylum announced yesterday still lacks clarity. It questions the very fundamental values that the EU projects into the world, such as prosperity, mutual respect, freedom and safety, as asylum seekers and refugees are put into a false “solidarité a la carte” compromise. In its 2020 Work Programme, the European Commission promised to put forward a “more resilient, more humane and more effective migration and asylum system”. However, the new Migration Pact once again shows that the EU is still struggling to break the silos between positive rhetoric and effective policy implementation that works for all.”