BRUSSELS – Europe returns to divide. And it does so, as has often happened in the past, on migrants. Not only does the European Council take no operational step forward in measures to stem irregular immigration, it also splits into at least three parts. With the Eastern front determined to ask for the construction of a “wall”; the Northern countries ready to attack the so-called secondary movements (and therefore also Italy), that is, non-EU citizens who arrive in one country and then move to another; Rome which does not accept to have the exclusive burden of the southern Mediterranean flows placed on its shoulders.
“Here too an anti-migrant wall”. Twelve countries split Europe
by our correspondent Claudio Tito
All this while two other problems explode that exacerbate the comparison. The first concerns Belarus and its hybrid threat: it favors the irregular passage from its border. A retaliation by Aleksandr Lukashenko following the measures taken by the Union against him. The second concerns Turkey. Which returns to warn Europe about the possibility of flooding it with migrants from Afghanistan and Iran. “There are 3.5 million Afghans in Iran,” Ankara Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu warned. “Two million are ready to move, considering that every day two thousand arrive we face a serious threat at the level of migrants”.
An explosive mixture that has turned into a primed bomb ready to detonate in Brussels. Tensions, quarrels, mutual accusations. Yet, at first the meeting was organized to avoid any potential friction. But the plan jumped with the request of the 12 countries that already signed a letter two weeks ago (including Austria, Greece, Poland and Hungary) to ask for funding from the Union in order to build a wall along the entire eastern border. A request rejected with decision to the sender by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen: «There is an understanding on this between the Commission and Parliament. And I have already been very clear: there will be no financing of barbed wire and walls ».
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But the confrontation at that point intensifies. The Northern Front sets out to attack the secondary movements. Dutch Mark Rutte takes care of it. The accusation, not so veiled, is that the countries of first landing such as Italy, Spain and Greece, do not control their land borders, allowing migrants to move to other nations of the Union.
The conclusion is the mediation that can be read in the final document. Which on the specific point is divided into two parts. In fact, the EU is invited to make all possible “efforts” “to reduce secondary movements”, but also “to ensure a fair balance between responsibility and solidarity between the member states”. This last sentence was not present in the original wording of the document. It was Italy that asked for their inclusion precisely to counter the criticism of secondary movements. “Solidarity”, in fact, means that the EU cannot think of offloading the responsibility of managing the influx from the South, in particular from Africa, to the countries of first landing. And this even if the Dublin Agreement provides for precisely this procedure.
The second part is a way to reassure the supporters of the wall. That will never be built at the expense of the common coffers. With a but. Which has an “economic” dimension. The heads of state and government point the finger at Belarus and Turkey and reject “the attempt by third countries to exploit migrants for political ends”; “They condemn the hybrid attacks on the borders of the EU which will be responded to accordingly”. And at the same time they invite “the Commission to propose the necessary changes to the EU legal framework and concrete measures supported by an adequate response in line with EU law and international obligations, including fundamental rights”. As if to say that Brussels will finance other legal instruments (ie give money) for the defense of the borders.
The final effect, however, is paralysis. This European Council has not adopted any operational measures. Much less on migrants. Indeed on this aspect, yesterday’s clash will produce other uncertainties and slownesses. In particular with reference to the new Pact on Asylum and Migration which has now been blocked for over a year. A solution is still far away. As he said Angela Merkel leaving the last European summit of her Chancellery, “I now leave this European Union under my responsibility as Chancellor in a situation that worries me”.
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