Migration remains a European challenge that calls for a unified response across the continent. This message was echoed by the European Council after a summit that was unusually brief, yet notable for a dense, “deep discussion” about how to handle migratory flows. The exchange laid bare the rift among the Twenty-Seven, who mostly agree on one point: expulsions must be accelerated as part of the solution.
For some observers, progress hinges on a model associated with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that would place processing centers outside the European Union to handle people who have no right to stay on European soil. For others, that approach would merely shift the problem elsewhere without solving it. In truth, all options remain on the table for now.
In the summit declaration, leaders urged action to “facilitate, increase and accelerate returns,” and called for using “all policies, instruments, and tools” at their disposal. This spans diplomacy, development, trade, and visa policy aimed at pressuring partner countries. Yet the text makes no mention of establishing centers on foreign soil.
The only concrete request from the Twenty-Seven to the Commission was to urgently present a new returns directive, a pledge Ursula von der Leyen had already signaled in a letter earlier in the week. “EU migration policy can only be sustainable if those who do not have the right to remain are effectively returned,” the German leader noted, highlighting that only about 20% of non-residents lacking a right to reside are expelled. (European Council, 2024)
The Meloni Model, No Consensus
The summit began early on Thursday with Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands hosting a preparatory session that drew about a dozen countries ready to explore the Meloni approach.
At that breakfast were the Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer, and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, along with von der Leyen, who compared notes with the Italian prime minister. The Commission’s proposal envisions using centers outside EU territory to speed up expulsions and has the backing of a number of leaders, but there is still no consensus. (European Commission, 2024)
The council’s communiqué does not commit to the centers. It sticks to a familiar formula: “new ways to prevent and counter irregular migration should be studied, in line with EU and international law.” While von der Leyen had already hinted at what and how in her letter, she has not yet secured unanimous backing from all governments. (EU Press Office, 2024)
According to sources within the bloc, opposition to the model is not outright rejection, but doubts remain about its effectiveness. Even some countries backing the proposal, like Greece, acknowledge concerns about feasibility. “The Italy–Albania agreement is bilateral. I don’t know if it can be copied at the European level. We need to see whether it will really work,” stated Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an interview with the Financial Times. (Financial Times, 2024)
Cooperating with Third Countries
Other member states, including Belgium and Germany, also question the approach’s effectiveness. On arrival, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said such centers are not the real solution for a country as large as Germany, while Belgium’s leader advocated broadening deals with origin and transit countries such as Egypt, Mauritania, and Tunisia. (European Council reports, 2024)
A shared position among the Twenty-Seven emphasizes strengthening cooperation with origin and transit countries, addressing the drivers of migration and countering human trafficking. The council underscored the importance of visa policy and secure, legal pathways as essential for regular, orderly migration. Yet progress in these areas has lagged for years. (Council conclusions, 2024)
One player did secure broad support this week: Poland’s plan to temporarily suspend asylum rights at its eastern border, presented as a response to what its government calls a hybrid threat. The Twenty-Seven’s consensus remains that asylum protections must be safeguarded, even as exceptional circumstances demand prudent measures. (Polish government briefing, 2024)
“No country should allow Russia or Belarus, or any other state, to abuse our values, including the right to asylum,” the Twenty-Seven declared, “exceptional situations require appropriate measures.” (European Council, 2024)