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At a time when the majority of Americans say illegal immigration is their country’s biggest problem, Europe has shown them the way forward. On Wednesday, the European Parliament passed major immigration reforms, in what one negotiator said was a “triumph of European values over political stagnation”.
One of the values embedded in the reform is equality. Migrants seeking asylum will be treated more uniformly and quickly across the continent. And the European Union’s 27 member states will be required to equally share the burden of accepting migrants, who currently enter the country primarily through the Mediterranean countries of Italy and Greece.
One benefit of the so-called new deal on migration and asylum could be that it would increase EU cohesion, especially in the run-up to parliamentary elections in June. In the last EU-wide elections held in 2019, immigration was a top concern for people. Lena Dupont, a German politician in the European Parliament, wrote that the new agreement “could create mutual trust.” [EU] We partner with you and build trust to overcome challenges together. ”
Ms Dupont added in her contribution to the Center for European Policy: “The EU has stumbled from one emergency solution to the next.” [on migration] On the other hand, they become more vulnerable to polarized and heated debates. ” has “failed to cherish its own values” and found “a balance between the protection of fundamental rights and the effective management of borders”.
The EU has struggled to find an agreement on migration for nearly a decade. The new dialogue began in 2015 and 2016, when more than a million people fleeing conflict in the Middle East entered Europe and the rise of anti-immigration parties accelerated. Last year, the number of asylum applications in the EU hit a seven-year high, and the number of people entering the country illegally increased by the largest amount since 2016. Additionally, Russia and its ally Belarus are “weaponizing” Middle Eastern migrants by funneling them into EU member states.
The breakthrough in the EU deal began in 2022 after an influx of around 4 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. This is the largest refugee movement in Europe since World War II. The warm welcome of Ukrainians showed that differences over immigration can be resolved. Compassion conquered fear.
Implementation of the new EU agreement could take two years. And how to balance competing views could be challenged in future elections and in the courts. Still, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser said, “After years of tough negotiations, we have overcome Europe’s deep divisions.” And it serves as a useful example of what many Americans expect from their country.
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