EU countries approve tighter migration policy

BRUSSELS - European Union (EU) countries on Monday backed a significant tightening of Europe's immigration policy, including endorsing the concept of setting up "return hubs" outside the 27-nation bloc for failed asylum seekers.

EU interior ministers meeting in Brussels greenlighted a package of measures, as European governments are under pressure to take a tougher stance amid a souring of public opinion on migration that has fueled far-right gains at the ballot box.

Put forward by the European Commission (EC) earlier this year, the changes need to be approved by the European Parliament before coming into force. The proposal provides for setting up centers outside the EU to send illegal immigrants whose asylum claims are rejected. The amendments also provide for tougher penalties for illegal immigrants who refuse to leave EU territory. It also allows migrants to be sent to countries that are not their country of origin but which the EU considers safe.

Although illegal immigration into Europe is around 20 percent lower this year than last year, the pressure to find solutions to curb it has not abated.

"We have to speed up," said EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner, "to give the people the feeling that we have control over what is happening."

The new initiatives have caused consternation among activists working with migrants.

But under the impetus of Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency and has long advocated for stricter migration rules, member states are moving forward at a rapid pace.

An EU diplomat told AFP there was "a widely shared political wish" among leaders in the bloc to press ahead with these additional steps.

Some in the bloc have voiced skepticism.

France questioned the legality and effectiveness of some of the proposals, while Spain was not convinced "return hubs" could work after several unsuccessful trials by other countries.

Still, the measures have backing from center-right and far-right lawmakers, who already gave an initial approval in the European Parliament.

EU states also agreed on Monday on how to implement a new "solidarity" system for distributing at least 30,000 asylum seekers among member countries.

Under a recently approved reform to help relieve pressure on countries that see large numbers of arrivals, such as Greece and Italy, other EU members are expected to take in some or pay EUR 20,000 to the countries under pressure.

But with governments across the bloc being urged to tighten immigration policies, volunteering to take in extra asylum seekers is fraught with political risk.

This led to lengthy negotiations, which were settled on Monday, although details of the decision were not disclosed.

"There are few interior ministers who will want to come out in front of the press and say: 'OK, I've taken 3,000,'" a European official told AFP.