PC5 Debate | Discussing the future challenges of the EU Migration and Asylum policy with MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar

Implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum-gaps -need for new initiatives

Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar (S&D) is chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Member of the Spinelli Group

After years of discussions among the co-legislators and the Commission, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum is in the process to be formally approved before the June 2024 European Elections. The Pact provides the framework for a comprehensive reform of these policy areas, based on previous experience, and takes into consideration recent caselaw as well as the progress made towards a rights based approach improving the rules and standards in particular for children(including unaccompanied) and vulnerable groups of persons.

The adoption of the new Pact on these sensitive and highly political topics is one of the main achievements of the Ursula von der Layen Commission, as Migration and Asylum is one of the most contentious issues in the European politics. In addition to the political sensitivity, questions related to its multidisciplinary dimension as well as the technical complexity have been raised, while experts and civil society groups have already criticised the new Pact for lack of political will and ambitious vision as well as for gaps concerning basic human rights implications.

What are the prospects of an effective implementation of this multi-decade overhaul of the EU asylum and migration policies? What are the remaining gaps for a truly common EU Asylum policy based on trust among Member States? What EU could propose in a wider framework as a concrete follow-up of the Global Compact on Migration? What cooperation on these issues with civil society? How can the EU pass a positive message aimed at the promotion of people to people contact (in particular, ensuring youth safe mobility and exchange).

Introduction by Daphne Gogou, President of the UEF Greece, Member of the UEF Executive Bureau

Moderator: Mădălin Blidaru, chair of the UEF Political Commission on Migration, Rule of Law, and Justice