The European Parliament has definitively adopted new immigration policies that enable member states to return asylum seekers to countries outside their origin, considered 'safe' by Europe.
On October 10th, the European Parliament finalized two significant texts aimed at tightening the continent's migration policy. This shift results from an alliance between right-wing and far-right factions, reflecting a growing political consensus on stringent immigration controls. The new provisions allow EU member states to send asylum seekers back to so-called 'safe' countries where they are not originally from, a move that has raised significant concerns among NGOs and leftist parties regarding the treatment and reception of these individuals in those nations.
This approach has already been piloted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who established centers in Albania for this purpose. Despite her efforts, legal obstacles have previously hindered the full implementation of such measures. Nonetheless, the recent legislation approved in the European Parliament is expected to facilitate the execution of these policies, prompting fears of inadequate asylum conditions and the potential for human rights violations in the designated countries.
Critics of the new immigration measures, including MEP Mélissa Camara, have voiced strong opposition, labeling this legislation as a step towards the dehumanization of immigration policy in the EU. The implications of these changes suggest a significant shift in how Europe approaches immigration, particularly in its dealings with vulnerable populations seeking refuge, as political pressures mount to curb immigration flows amid rising nationalist sentiments across the continent.
