Monday’s four-party negotiations effectively brought us back to where we started. While the current plans for resurrecting the migrant quota system only include Germany, France, Italy, and Malta, the group seems intent on pushing the idea in front of the next Council meeting of EU interior ministers in October. Think of it as a first step toward “a more comprehensive measure,” they say.
In essence, the relocation scheme outlined on Monday furthers the idea of a mandatory migrant quota: It would distribute incoming illegals even before they arrive at European ports. The uncontrolled, unmanaged influx of foreigners is, of course, a security issue, but there’s yet another reason to be concerned.
If these migrants are automatically resettled, then that continues to create a pull factor encouraging millions of people in developing countries to set off for Europe in search of a better life. The revived migrant quota system is like an invitation to these millions who, according to the latest findings by USAID, are ready to flee their homes for more developed states.
Hungary’s position, however, remains unchanged, similar to that of former Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who used frank language in his Twitter response to the latest development: “[T]he assistance of the few who are fleeing war is a must, but opening Italy’s ports to the whole world is insane.” By going down this road, the EU will be funding pro-immigration NGOs and, even if inadvertently, channeling cash into the pockets of human traffickers shipping masses of illegals to Europe’s shores.
It’s been more than four years since the peak of the migration crisis in 2015, but the crisis is far from over. The pro-migration cabal, remarkable in their persistence, hasn’t given up on introducing a mandatory system of migrant relocation quotas. And with these recent events, they have managed to reignite the debate and will take another shot at imposing the pro-immigration agenda on those countries within the European Union whose citizens, like the citizens of Hungary, oppose any form of migrant quota. But we won’t give in.
Photo credit: EU Observer