European Migration Forum

By Ayman Okeil

The ninth edition of the European Migration Forum concluded on November 29, 2024. Organized by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee, this year’s forum focused on the implementation of EU Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted by European Parliament on June 11, 2024. A key outcome of this edition was the emphasis on the role of European civil society in enacting the Pact.

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum introduces new rules for managing migration and establishes a joint asylum system among EU countries. Notable positives within the Pact include provisions for assisting unaccompanied children and guarantees for asylum seekers from member states. However, the Pact has clear loopholes. EU countries are set to establish detention centers for migrants while their asylum applications are under review. Additionally, the expedited deportation of migrants whose applications have been rejected raises concerns, particularly regarding the potential deportation to third countries outside the EU. This approach may violate the principle of non-refoulement, which is upheld in international human rights agreements and reinforced by regional human rights court rulings. Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture states that no state may expel, return, or extradite a person if there are substantial grounds to believe that they would face torture. The European Court of Human Rights has similarly confirmed that migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers have the right not to be forcibly returned.

The Forum’s outcomes highlighted the importance of granting European civil society a more significant role in implementing the Pact, particularly in managing the reception of migrants and asylum seekers before their applications are processed. However, I believe that confining civil society’s role to this area will be insufficient for meaningful change. There is a noticeable trend within the EU to reduce the number of migrants, with claims of a 40% decrease in illegal migration and a 20% increase in voluntary returns in 2024.

To foster real change, civil society must be empowered with additional responsibilities, such as deciding on asylum applications that have been rejected by EU member states. Moreover, they should assess cases of refugees at risk of being forcibly returned to countries where they may face inhumane treatment or torture. Civil society should also advocate against the bilateral agreements some European countries are pursuing to deport migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.