The Dutch are calling on the European Union to temporarily suspend visa benefits as part of efforts to compel countries to deport migrants who do not meet EU requirements. EU justice and home affairs ministers are set to meet in Sweden today to discuss rising irregular migration to the bloc.
The Netherlands is calling on the European Union to push more countries to take back people deemed ineligible to stay in the bloc through restricting visa access, the German press agency dpa reported on Wednesday (January 25).
The Hague wants the EU to use its existing powers to temporarily suspend visa benefits as leverage over nations that do not collaborate with deportation decisions.
The strategy would require improved data-sharing and speedier decisions to cut back on administrative tape. The EU would also need to boost collaboration with countries complying with the bloc's deportation decisions.
Migrants without asylum rights 'must be sent back,' says EU Home Affairs
The Netherlands is also calling on countries which first receive migrants to step up their efforts on hosting and handling asylum requests. The call is likely to put more pressure on Greece, Italy, Spain and Malta – countries that deal with regular initial arrivals via the Mediterranean Sea.
The EU justice and home affairs ministers are scheduled to meet in Sweden on Thursday and Friday to discuss the surge in irregular migration to the EU.
More than 300,000 irregular migrant arrivals were recorded in 2022, the European Commission said on Tuesday as it presented a new strategy to increase the return of irregular migrants.
"Those who are not entitled to stay in the European Union must be sent back to their country of origin," EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said in Brussels on Tuesday.
With dpa