EU Faces Challenges in Implementing New Migration Pact Amid Rising Migrant Arrivals

The European Union's recently approved migration pact, which aims to provide a robust legislative framework for handling migration, is facing significant challenges as the number of migrants arriving in Europe continues to rise. The pact, which passed a series of votes in the European Parliament last week, has been met with criticism from both human rights groups and far-right political parties.

One of the key issues facing the EU is the increasing number of Syrian migrants leaving Lebanon for Cyprus. The Cypriot government has recorded over 2,000 Syrian refugees arriving from Lebanon by sea in the first three months of 2024, compared to just 78 in the same period last year. Despite a bilateral agreement signed in 2020 that allows Cyprus to send back migrants from Lebanon, the latter started refusing to take back Syrians bound for Cyprus in February.

The EU has implemented bilateral agreements with key departure countries, such as Egypt and Tunisia, to block departures by providing financial aid for border control. However, the situation in Lebanon is more complex, as it hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the highest refugee population per capita in the world. Syrian refugees in Lebanon face significant challenges, including obtaining official documents, discrimination, and exploitation.

The Cypriot government has announced a policy to suspend asylum seeker applications from Syrian nationals for up to 21 months, citing the recent mass arrivals of migrants. This decision has faced criticism from experts and human rights groups, who argue that it is discriminatory and potentially illegal under EU and Cypriot laws. The EU Commission has stated that the government's decision is possible under EU regulations but has also emphasized the need to reassess the situation in Syria, which remains one of the largest displacement crises globally.

Why this matters: The challenges faced by the EU in implementing its new migration policy highlight the ongoing struggle to balance the need for effective border control with the protection of human rights and the provision of asylum for those fleeing conflict and persecution. The situation in Lebanon and Cyprus highlights the complexity of the migration crisis and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated approach that addresses the root causes of displacement.

The EU's migration pact has been criticized by human rights groups, who warn that it will lead to increased detention at EU borders and a risk of people being sent back to dangerous countries. The pact is seen as a political compromise that risks reinforcing the radical right's framing of migration, as they support the deterrent measures while opposing more humanitarian elements like the proposed EU-wide relocation scheme. Given the number of migrants arriving in Europe continues to rise, the EU will need to find a way to balance these competing concerns and implement a policy that is both effective and humane.

Key Takeaways

• EU's new migration pact faces challenges as migrant arrivals rise in Europe.
• Increase in Syrian migrants from Lebanon to Cyprus, despite bilateral agreement.
• EU's bilateral agreements with departure countries have had limited success.
• Cyprus suspends asylum seeker applications from Syrians, facing criticism.
• Balancing border control and human rights protection remains a challenge for the EU.