The issue of migration around Europe?

The issue of Migration around Europe?

People migrate for a variety of reasons, none more poignant than as economic migrants.

Whilst European leaders are battling stark divisions within the Bloc for an equitable distribution of migrants in the Mediterranean rim of nations, there appear to be fundamental issues blocking a “one size fits all” settlement of this problem.

The wave of populist sentiment across Europe is in the making. Equally refugees fleeing persecution need asylum. However, it does not automatically mean that countries have to give someone that protection in their own State, is being debated around Europe. 

What policies that suited Europe years ago such as the Schengen Border Code, the Dublin Resolution and perhaps, the European Fundamental Rights Charter, now seem to be outdated and represent a big hurdle to what can be reformed and how these reforms can be adopted by all the 28 European nations.

Whether we like it or not, the so called rich nations of Northern Europe, Germany and France in particular, and the so called “Sunshine States” of Southern Europe, like Italy and Greece, had “sheltered” an inherent dichotomy. The former did want cheap labour for their manufacturing industry; the latter could hardly sustain uncontrolled migration.   

Understandably Italy has long been overwhelmed with arrivals from the African continent, all claiming to be refugees, it is now standing alongside countries such as Austria, Hungary, Poland and perhaps others of the Old Soviet Bloc, who are pushing for tougher EU anti migration policies, on the wave of popular support.
                                      

The Dublin Resolution

Under the Dublin Resolution a request for asylum, should usually be presented in the “first European country of entry”. This regulation enabled EU countries to deport asylum seekers to the country where they first landed. The Dublin system has been identified as the big structural problem because it places an undue burden on countries of first entry. It can be argued that this is both a protection and a non protection for both refugee and host country?

EU Fundamental Rights Charter

The EU and its member states are obliged to comply with the principles of the rule of law and respect fundamental rights. These legal obligations were framed progressively by the case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The Charter of Fundamental Rights draws on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the European Social Charter and the constitutional tradition common to all the EU member states and the Courts’ Case Law. This Charter is binding upon all the EU institutions as well as Member States. It is also a point of reference for the EU legislature.

During the period (2011-14) and prior to the hordes of migrants from Africa, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and other nations, EU reformed its legislation on asylum in order to achieve its objective to establish a Common European Asylum System (CEAS).

The current refugee crisis has impeded further development of CEAS.

Schengen System of passport free travel

The Schengen system of passport free travel throughout Europe (not only EU) is also on the verge of collapse because of temporary border controls reinstated by a number of EU Member States.

Chancellor Merkel’s Proposal

As Bavaria’s Christian Social Union, a coalition partner threatened a renewed rebellion to bring down her 13 year rule to an end, as well as start turning away at the German border those registered for asylum elsewhere, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will seek direct deals between countries to fix the migration crisis if the EU fails to agree a common policy. There were to be bilateral and trilateral agreements between the EU how to help each other than wait for all 28 members to agree. This can hardly be construed as EU policy?

However, it has been eased at least for the time being by the all night sitting of 28 members of EU Council on 28 June 2018. Reports state the EU has “stuck a deal”. After 9 hours of grinding negotiations they managed to paper over the yawning differences. The “Fortress Europe” agenda in Brussels according to reporters, after all, has put deterrence and the protection of EU borders at the forefront of its migration policy.

While all this was going on?

While all this was going on in Brussels, England lost to Belgium at the World Cup in Russia, but England got "an easier route to final."

Besides, due to the unusual heat wave producing temperatures over 30 degrees over a week in England, some roads have started to melt. Train tracks have reached a high of 49 degrees C (120.2F) and thousands are flocking to the sea coasts to enjoy the weather?

At long last England is also on the verge of a Brexit celebration of sorts. Both Britain and the Republic of Ireland are of a similar size, but Britain’s population is 66 million compared to Ireland’s population of 6 million. The cause for celebration is that Britain at long last is seeing a 43 percent drop in migrant workers coming from the European Union, a welcome sign to some, a worry for others?

Dip in numbers of EU migrant workers

The number of people entering the UK for work from Europe has dipped.Citizens of the A8 countries coming to work in Britain have decreased even with the assurances of free movement until 2020. There is disenchantment it seems with Britain after Brexit for European migrant workers? Significant numbers of EU nationals have also decided not to make Britain their home.

Many are remaining in their own countries to stabilise “Fortress Europe?” Others are finding it does not pay to come and work in Britain, with so many tight immigration rules coming into force since and possible  reprisals after Brexit. There is no more an automatic “free-be” in Britain either for health care, or for other amenities such as eligibility for Child Support Allowance for EU migrant workers’ children, already resident in their homes in Europe.

Rules for new EU migrants could include mandatory work permits,requirements to register on arrival and restrictions to access to benefits,which would not apply to EU citizens who moved to UK before Brexit, But the Home Secretary has recently clarified that EU citizens and their families who have been living in the UK for at least 5 years by the end of 2020 will be able to apply for "settled status" giving them right to remain and work in UK indefinitely.
                                       

The grass is not always green on the other side?

The Brexit dividend is here already. A year before Brexit, the Office of National Statistics has revealed that there is a slowdown in Britain’s population growth as well.

There is also a 32 percent drop in the number of migrants from outside the EU claiming jobs in UK. The closure of the “Calais Jungle” and the clandestine entry for economic migrants into Britain has been sealed, at least for the time being.

The ECHR ruling on Fundamental Human Rights will also not apply for asylum seekers in UK after Brexit.

All in all, migrants, whether job seekers or asylum seekers are in for a hard time in Britain after Brexit. This possibly could be one reason for the influx of migrants to Europe crossing the Mediterranean at present?

Victor Cherubim