BRUSSELS — European Union leaders are set to gather for a summit on Thursday with the aim of exploring strategies to deter migration and asylum-seeking within the bloc. This shift comes in response to a notable rise in extreme right-wing sentiments across Europe, escalating opposition to foreign immigrants.
As leaders convene in Brussels, the focus will be on accelerating measures to remove any unwanted migrants from EU territory as well as processing asylum applications significantly outside the EU’s borders.
The current discourse represents a stark contrast to the situation in 2015, when the EU faced an overwhelming influx of migrants and refugees—over a million predominantly from the Middle East and Afghanistan. At that time, then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a leading figure in the EU, famously asserted, “We can manage that.”
Today, however, the prevailing view among EU leaders is to tighten their borders, advocating for initiatives that might have seemed unacceptable in the recent past. Notably, Poland has indicated a desire to temporarily suspend asylum rights, Italy has established processing centers for asylum seekers in Albania, and Germany has reintroduced border controls. All these measures reflect a unified approach towards a more stringent migration policy.
“Migration remains a central domestic issue,” acknowledged a senior EU diplomat, despite the introduction of an extensive asylum plan earlier in May meant to be in place by 2026. This plan outlines how the 27 member states will manage unauthorized entries, including the evaluation processes for asylum eligibility and subsequent deportations. Nevertheless, the mechanism for sharing the responsibility of hosting migrants has been met with resistance from Hungary and Poland.
With the rise of extreme right political parties in recent EU parliamentary and national elections, migration continues to be a contentious issue for leaders. In 2023 alone, around 3.5 million migrants entered Europe lawfully, yet an estimated 1 million remained without the necessary permits.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of the situation in a detailed letter to fellow leaders ahead of the summit. She cautioned against complacency, advocating to implement aspects of the 2026 plan at an expedited pace. “Events from this past summer remind us to maintain our ambition concerning timelines,” she stated.
Furthermore, there is a push to establish “innovative” projects such as Italy’s strategy of outsourcing asylum processing to Albania. On Wednesday, an Italian navy vessel docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin, marking the arrival of the first 16 migrants intercepted during a rescue operation in international waters.
Under a five-year accord signed last November by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Albanian PM Edi Rama, as many as 3,000 migrants rescued by Italian forces each month will be accommodated in Albania. Initial screenings will take place aboard the rescue ship before the individuals are sent to Albania for comprehensive evaluations.
During the summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will present a controversial proposal to suspend asylum rights—traditionally a cornerstone of European principles established post-World War II. Poland has accused Belarus and Russia of orchestrating the mass movement of migrants from the Middle East and Africa toward the EU’s eastern border, viewing this as part of a larger hybrid conflict amid the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Although Tusk faces criticism from various human rights advocates, there are those who acknowledge Poland’s difficult situation. Yet, EU nations have long been divided over the approach to irregular migration, making it improbable that any decisive agreements will arise from the meeting.
Spain’s position highlights these internal rifts. The country, which receives thousands of African migrants arriving via the Canary Islands, has indicated it may support faster action on the 2026 framework but stands opposed to certain practices being employed in other member states. “Spain has expressed its opposition to the establishment of centers in third-party nations,” said government spokesperson Pilar Alegría, reaffirming their commitment to a humanitarian interpretation of the migration plan.
Despite the ongoing dialogue, critics of the proposed initiatives argue that these measures are designed to facilitate the detention of migrants at borders and may infringe upon the rights of individuals, particularly children, seeking asylum. They urge that the focus should be on the humanitarian aspects of migration rather than exclusionary tactics.
