Leaders of the European Union have demanded that deportations of unsuccessful asylum applicants be accelerated after a protracted discussion on migration at a meeting in Brussels, reports RTE.
At the end of the conference, leaders issued a statement calling for “determined action at all levels to facilitate, increase and speed up returns [of failed asylum seekers] from the European Union.”
The European Commission was urged in the statement to propose new laws “as a matter of urgency.”
The European Parliament has been holding up a previous EU Returns Directive for six years, reports RTE.
Leaders also demanded “enhanced cooperation” with the nations that migrants transit through and depart from on their way to the EU.
They said that “mutually beneficial partnerships” may contribute in combating people smuggling and addressing the underlying reasons of migration.
Under a deal with the EU, Tunisia’s coast guard restricts the number of boats that may leave the country’s shores for migration in return for financial assistance, reports RTE.
Albania and Italy have a bilateral agreement. In this instance, one of two safe camps on Albanian territory processes the asylum petitions of male migrants who are rescued at sea.
Both accords have drawn harsh criticism from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who say they are intended to hide the migration issue and that, in the case of Tunisia, there have been serious violations of the human rights of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who are stranded there, reports RTE.
As Poland recently said that it will deny asylum applications from migrants entering from Belarus, EU leaders voiced support with Poland, claiming that the Belarussian government was “weaponising” the migration crisis to create tensions in Europe.
NGOs and several member nations have condemned Poland’s unilateral decision to not evaluate refugee petitions.
In a statement, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “The European borders and how the European Union operates in relation to migration has a direct impact obviously on migration in Ireland. That is why the Pact is essential and why Ireland is moving to introduce legislation as soon as possible,” reports RTE.
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