London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 23, 2025

EU drafts plan to share migrant influx — voluntarily

EU drafts plan to share migrant influx — voluntarily

A draft document seen by POLITICO, which is still under discussion, proposes a voluntary relocation of at least 5,000 or 10,000 migrants a year.
The EU is discussing a proposal for countries to voluntarily relocate a minimum of 5,000 or 10,000 migrants a year, according to a draft document seen by POLITICO.

The proposal is being crafted by the Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency. Dated October 20, the so-called discussion paper is meant to gauge the position of EU members and hasn’t yet reached ambassadors in Brussels. But it might represent a potential compromise approach on a subject that has long bedeviled EU members.

Indeed, reforming EU asylum rules has been one of the bloc’s most contentious issues since the migration wave in 2015. And a major source of friction has been how to relocate asylum seekers arriving at the EU’s borders. Previous attempts to set up a mandatory distribution system never advanced, mainly because of opposition from Central European countries like Hungary and Poland.

In the document, titled “Way forward on EU migration solidarity and crisis response mechanism,” the Czech presidency writes that member states “are invited to consider” a minimum annual threshold for voluntary relocations. It suggests 5,000 or 10,000 as possible options — but leaves open the possibility that the European Commission could push the number even higher.

It notes, however, that the pledges would be voluntary.

The proposal is set in the framework of “flexible solidarity,” allowing each country to decide whether to take in asylum seekers or offer financial help to countries facing a migration influx.

Under existing law, asylum seekers are required to submit their applications with the first EU country they set foot in. If they then move within the EU, these migrants can be sent back to that first EU country. But exemptions for countries facing a large wave of migration are already under consideration. And the document keeps open the possibility of introducing these exemptions if the Commission cannot find enough volunteers to accept the desired level of asylum seekers.

So far, Mediterranean countries, the main EU access point for migrants arriving from Africa and the Middle East, have welcomed the Czech proposal, according to an EU official. But countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, desired spots to move once within the EU, are less in favor.

Technical discussions on the document will continue until the end of November when officials will decide whether to elevate the proposal.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
×