Acting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (left, back), European Council President Charles Michel (center, back) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right, back) rear) attend a press conference after an informal European Union (EU) summit. in Granada, Spain, October 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
The recent increase in migrant arrivals on European shores has made migration one of the main topics of the summit. According to EU data, as of August, more than 160,000 irregular arrivals have been recorded this year. EU Mediterranean countries subject to the greatest migratory pressure from Africa have called for concrete actions against illegal immigration.
GRANADA, Spain, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — The European Union (EU) on Friday concluded an informal summit on the bloc’s future strategy and expansion with the adoption of the Granada Declaration, but failed to reach to reach a consensus on migration policy.
Leaders of EU member states gathered in the southern Spanish city to “mark the start of the process to define the Union’s general political guidelines and priorities for the years to come, establishing a strategic action plan to shape our common future for the benefit of all,” the statement said.
Speaking at a press conference after the summit, European Council President Charles Michel said the adoption of the declaration was an important starting point for future work on the EU’s strategic agenda. EU (2024-2029). The Grenada summit marked the first time that EU leaders discussed the future priorities of the agenda, which is expected to be adopted in June 2024.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference after an informal summit of the European Union (EU) in Granada, Spain, October 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Yi )
THE CHALLENGE OF EXPANSION
Regarding EU enlargement, the declaration states that it is a “geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity” and that “the future of our aspiring members and their citizens reside within the European Union.
For an even wider union, the EU and future member states must be ready. “Membership candidates must step up their reform efforts… At the same time, the Union must lay the internal foundations and carry out the necessary reforms.”
However, the declaration does not outline concrete plans or a timetable for the goals.
The EU can no longer approach the issue of its enlargement with its current hesitations and must establish a clearer roadmap for candidate countries, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told the Czech Press Agency after the top.
Michel said the EU should be ready for its next enlargement by 2030, but other leaders expressed reservations about the need to set a date.
“The process of joining the European Union is based on merit,” stressed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during the press conference. There are “no shortcuts, no automated opt-in.”
EU enlargement is the process by which states join the bloc after meeting a set of political and economic conditions. Currently, eight countries, including several from the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova, have been granted candidate status, but are following different processes of rapprochement with the EU.
Acting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose country currently holds the six-monthly rotating presidency of the EU Council, said a day before the summit that Spain was still open to EU enlargement, but that accepting new members would bring “many challenges.” internally.”
European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a press conference after an informal summit of the European Union (EU) in Granada, Spain, October 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
MIGRATION DISPUTE
The recent increase in migrant arrivals on European shores has made migration one of the main topics of the summit. According to EU data, as of August, more than 160,000 irregular arrivals have been recorded this year. EU Mediterranean countries subject to the greatest migratory pressure from Africa have called for concrete actions against illegal immigration.
The Spanish presidency wants to advance the European pact on migration, but this subject remains a subject of discord within the Union. Negotiations have dragged on for years due to divergences in some member states’ standards for sharing responsibilities in the management and relocation of migrants.
Poland and Hungary, who reject any shared responsibility for migrants arriving in other EU member states, blocked leaders from including migration in the summit’s final declaration.
“There will be no compromise on migration. Neither today nor in the years to come,” warned Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban on the social network X before the summit.
“As a responsible politician, I officially reject the entire paragraph of the summit conclusions regarding migration,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said after the summit.
In a separate statement issued on his own behalf, the President of the European Council said: “Migration is a European challenge that requires a European response. Irregular migration must be immediately and decisively addressed.”■