Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Security incident in Gaza Strip classified as serious results in six wounded soldiers so far, two critically injured.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in Deir Ames, Tyre governorate.
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area

Migrant crisis could cause collapse of EU: The Telegraph

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Telegraph
  • 18 Sep 2023 22:51
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The EU is facing a critical challenge in dealing with the issue of migration, which has the potential to undermine its very existence, Ross Clark writes for The Telegraph.

  • x
  • Migrants stand in the Lampedusa's migrant reception center, Sicily, Sept. 14, 2023. (AP)
    Migrants stand in the Lampedusa's migrant reception center, Sicily, Sept. 14, 2023. (AP)

An op-ed by Ross Clark for The Telegraph on Monday argued that Keir Starmer's proposal to negotiate an agreement with the EU on migrants, which involves accepting asylum-seekers from other European countries in exchange for France and other nations accepting those who have entered Britain illegally on small boats, reveals a significant flaw.

According to Clark, this raises the question of how Starmer anticipates the EU agreeing to such a deal with the UK when the EU faces challenges in resolving migrant issues within its own member states.

Starmer's proposal, Clark argues, reflects the ideal functioning of Europe's asylum system. It enforces the principle that asylum-seekers should be required to seek refuge in the first safe country they reach, and those who move between safe nations should be promptly returned to either the initial safe country or, if applicable, to their home country.

As an integral component of this arrangement, the responsibility for managing asylum applications should be equitably distributed among EU member states.

However, the EU has struggled to establish an efficient system, leading to a situation where the 7,000 migrants who arrived on the Italian island of  Lampedusa on Wednesday and Thursday alone (surpassing the island's permanent population of 6,000) will not be evenly distributed across Europe.

Italy is likely to face the responsibility of managing this situation on its own, as it has already had to cope with 124,000 arrivals in 2023 thus far.

Read more: Ocean Viking rescues 68 migrants stranded off Libya coast

Countries wavering

Related News

Trump offers migrant kids $2,500 to self-deport, drawing outrage

Trump ends temporary protection for 250,000 Venezuelan migrants

The EU has had a voluntary asylum resettlement scheme in place since 2015, but numerous member states have not participated.

In 2022, Cyprus had to process 22,190 asylum applications, while Hungary handled only 45. This discrepancy highlights the uneven burden-sharing among EU nations.

Even countries that previously aimed for a fair distribution of asylum seekers are wavering. For example, Germany suspended its agreement to accept asylum seekers from Italy, and Belgium intends to defy a Supreme Court ruling regarding shelter for single young male asylum seekers.

This situation underscores the challenges faced by countries like Italy, Greece, and Cyprus, located near conflict zones and serving as initial points of entry for refugees.

Read more: Ocean Viking rescues 438 migrants in Mediterranean

Migrant crisis poses risk to EU unity

Despite the EU's commitment to free movement, it has not shown the same flexibility when it comes to asylum applicants. Some member states have resorted to physical barriers, such as Hungary's border fence, to deter migrants. 

The EU is facing a critical challenge in dealing with the issue of migration, which has the potential to undermine its very existence.

As previously migrant-friendly countries like Germany and Sweden distance themselves from migrants arriving on Europe's southern shores, it threatens to devolve into a situation where each country prioritizes its own interests. This could provoke strong reactions from nations highly affected by migrant inflows.

While the EU managed to weather the sovereign debt crisis a decade ago, the migrant crisis poses an even greater threat to its unity, Clark says.

The high-minded ideals that underpin the EU have been severely tested and appear to lack the structural integrity required to address the current challenges effectively.

Read more: Over 870 migrants cross English Channel in 15 boats in one day

  • Migrant Crisis
  • migrants
  • Immigration Policies
  • European Union

Most Read

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS