EU migration deal

Context

European Union (EU) ministers agreed on a deal to handle irregular arrivals of ‘asylum-seekers’ and ‘migrants’ to enter the territory who are awaited since 2015, from Syria other countries.

Who are asylum-seekers and migrants? The terms “refugee”, “asylum seeker” and “migrant” are used to describe people who are on the move, who have left their countries and have crossed borders.

Background

• Recently, the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a new measure intended to address the nation’s immigration crisis.
• The Illegal Migration bill seeks to halt the thousands of migrants who use tiny boats to cross the English Channel and enter the nation.

European Union and members: It is a political and Economic Union (EU) of 27 member states which are located primarily in Europe. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market. It enacts legislation in justice and home affairs. EU maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Passport controls have also been abolished for travel within the Schengen Area. A monetary union was established in 1999 that came in full force in 2002. It is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency.

• However, the other EU countries are also willing to make a similar immigration plan, but in a coordinated way.

 About the deal:

• A joint migration system proposed: Each EU country is agreed and would be assigned a share of the 30,000 peoples overall the bloc which is expected to accommodate in its joint migration system at any given time.
• Criteria to share migrant population: The people to be divided will be calculated based on the size of the country’s GDP and population, the number of irregular border crossings including via sea rescue operations, and more.
• Monetary help for migrants: Countries unwilling to take in people would instead be able to help their hosting peers through cash – at least 20,000 euros per person a year – equipment or personnel.

Illegal immigration in European countries:

• The EU bloc has tightened its external borders and its asylum laws, when more than 160,000 sea migrants Europe last year.
• More than 5 Lakh people have crossed to Europe by sea and land.
• Most of them are from Syria – troubled not only by civil war, but also by the most violent and inhumane atrocities by ISIS.
• They also belong from areas such as the Middle East (Syria, Iraq), Africa (Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, and Gambia), South Asia and Central Asia. 
• According to International Organisation for Migration (IOM) statistics, a substantial number of refugees are also from Afghanistan and Pakistan too due to unending civil conflicts in these countries.

The European Response to Migrant Crisis:

• Germany and the EU have been pushing for other EU members to work out a plan for asylum seekers.
• Britain leads among countries which strictly rejects it.
• Bulgaria, Czech, Slovakia and Poland all are reluctant in taking of refugees making the situation grave. Germany is expected to give green signal to almost 1 million applicants for asylum.
• Initially Europe was against accepting the immigrants.
• Only after huge outcry across International media and from human rights and progressive organisations within Europe, eased the curbs on refugees.

Why Europe is seen as a migrant destination?

• Due to land proximity and geography to reach without being noticed.
• Europe is the most preferred destination for the people from this war conflicted regions as its economically prosperous, socially secure and has friendly immigration laws.
• Endless wars, conflicts have ruined their countries political, economic and social equilibrium.
• Also it’s surprising why GCC countries never have been helpful or receptive to refugee crisis especially when it’s happening in their backyard. Rich countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar has to play more pro- active roles in this situation.