The sharp drop in irregular migrant arrivals is evidence that the EU’s policy reforms are working, EU migration commissioner, Magnus Brunner, said on Thursday (1 October).
But Syria is also no longer the single biggest source of asylum claims after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime 22 months ago, a factor that appears to have been conveniently ignored.
On Thursday, he told reporters after a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg that irregular arrivals have dropped 55 percent in the past two years.
“So that’s a record low in the asylum applications,” said the former Austrian finance minister, adding that Austria and Sweden have recorded equally low asylum numbers and that Germany is deporting more people than are asking for protection.
“The basis for all of that, and the foundation for all of that, is the pact, the pact on migration and asylum,” he said, in comments that were echoed by Ireland’s migration minister, Jim O’Callaghan.
The pact, spanning a mix of complex regulations, was launched in June. Despite having two years to prepare for the launch, its implementation remains patchy.
This article continues, but the full version is available only to EUobserver.com subscribers. Visit account.euobserver.com/membership
A blacksmith, a groom, a soldier, a slave: the faces and stories of these and other inhabitants of an ancient Roman city in modern-day Hungary have been brought back to life with astonishing accuracy in a new exhibition in Budapest, the Associated Press reported in July (as cited by BTA). The exhibition, which runs until […]
Every day Israel creates a new humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a new provocation in the West Bank, a political dilemma in the US. Keep track of the news here.
Memorable sound bytes from Jewish supremacist Israeli cabinet members Ben Gvir ("I want to kill you") and Smotrich ("take away their hope") ■ No immigration for Jews who help Palestinians ■ How Israel's war on Iran is going for the US ■ More
As Gazans live in terror of a building crashing down on their heads, West Bankers watch settlers take over their lands and homes. Mike Huckabee thinks if we'd only read the Bible better, we'd love Israel.
Understand Netanyahu's rhetoric through the lens of the actual situation in Gaza, facts on the ground in the West Bank, and realities inside Israel. See what the pro-Israel class is doing to our country.
Netanyahu's speech: vitriol and lies to an empty room ■ Just when you thought things in Gaza couldn't get more dire ■ West Bank heats up ■ Latest from Iran, Lebanon, Syria ■ More
Board of Peace enables Israel to block desperately needed items to Gaza; Trump doesn't want trouble in West Bank – but won't do anything to stop it; not to mention $2.8B arms deal with Israel. Much more. Get caught up here.
Israel's machinery of cruelty never rests. We've been tracking the news you need to know – concise, accurate, relevant, and with context that makes sense of it all
In the wake of intelligence reports that Russia may be planning an attack on NATO, questions have arisen over whether European officials have contingency plans ready to deal with such an event.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met in New York on September 22 following days of signals that US-Iranian talks would take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The meeting sparked a backlash from Iranian hard-liners.
US President Donald Trump has said a “massive deal” is being discussed with Belarus, under which it would provide cheaper potash supplies than Canada. But questions since the announcement have swirled over whether Belarus can replace the world's largest potash producer to meet US needs.
Thousands of articles have been published about Palestine, Israel, and related topics in the last 24 hours. Here are the most important headlines, curated for you.
Iran’s parliament is divided over a sweeping bill aimed at countering foreign “infiltration,” exposing tensions over how far the state should go in tightening security after the war. Even supporters such as Parliament Speaker Qalibaf have warned against measures that could “lock up” the country.
Login
