Not so long ago, in 2023, all of Europe hailed a migration deal breakthrough intended to control migration and reassure Europeans of a return to normality. This came after large masses of the population started to wonder if the influx of refugees pouring into the EU was actually a bad idea instead of a good one. Combined with the rise of so-called right-wing parties, European leaders tried to at least simulate that they were taking action.
Across the board, the praises reached new levels.
It’s truly a historic day,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described it as “a very important decision” that will “relieve the burden on countries that are particularly affected — including Germany.”
Note: Germany naturalized over 200k refugees only in 2023.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told his country’s parliament that the pact “will allow us to have an improved, more humane and better coordinated management of our frontiers and migration flows.”
Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the deal improves “control over migration” with “better asylum procedures at the external borders of the EU.”
On 10 April 2024, the European Parliament voted in favor of the new rules on migration, followed by their formal adoption by the Council of the EU, on 14 May 2024, allowing the EU to tackle complex issues with determination and ingenuity. This will ensure that the Union has strong and secure external borders, that people's rights are guaranteed, and that no EU country is left alone under pressure.
The pact was aimed at sharing the responsibility of hosting migrants after eastern EU member states were unwilling to take in people who had arrived in Greece, Italy and other countries. Hungary and Poland voted against the pact, while Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic abstained (Source: rt.com)
As nice as these words sound, nothing actually happened in terms of protecting the external borders. What did happen, though, is that under the new legislation, member states that are not located along the bloc’s external border may choose either to accept refugees or pay compensation to the EU fund. The migration pact is intended to further spread refugees across Europe, not to actually stop them before reaching the borders. It was never intended as a solution for Europeans.
Hungary has never been a fan of this sort of immigration and has been vocal about it. For Western Europe, this undoubtedly constitutes a right-wing stance, and its Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, is labeled as ... well, you get the idea. Protecting your country's interests is not something the EU is interested in. Forcing agreement to something you don't like, however, is.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ordered Hungary to pay a lump sum of €200 million over the country's long-standing restrictions on the right to asylum.
Additionally, Hungary will have to pay €1 million per day of delay. The money will be automatically subtracted from Hungary's allocated share of the EU budget, parts of which remain frozen over similar legal problems.
So the bullying continues. Poland might be next; however, the war in Ukraine makes it impossible for the EU to show its teeth for now, since Poland is needed as a transit point.
And since we're on the refugee theme, some news about Japan:
Japan Grants Asylum To Just 303 People In 2023 As It Rejected 98% Of Applicants.
98% REJECTED. And this 303 people are actually a record, compared with 2022 when they granted asylum to a whooping 202 people. Not thousands, but 202 people. In 2021 it was 74 and in 2020, 47. People.
What's the source of these refugees? Similar to Europe it seems:
As in 2022, the majority of those recognized as being refugees last year — 237 people — were from Afghanistan, where the return of the Taliban regime to power in 2021 has led to continued instability. Refugees from Myanmar and Ethiopia made up the next biggest groups.
Last year's applicants for refugee status made up the second-largest number that Japan has ever received in a single year, with those from Sri Lanka (3,778), Turkey (2,406) and Pakistan (1,062) accounting for the largest nationality groups.
So while Japan can do this and manage the influx for real, the EU can only fine and threaten its own members.
Nope, nothing is wrong here. Carry on.
