European Commission clears countries to take emergency measures to stop Russia facilitating migrant flows into eastern states
Executive vice-president of the European Commission for tech sovereignty, security and democracy Henna Virkkunen. She said the 'exceptional' nature of the weaponisation of migration by Russia permitted countries to respond with temporary emergency measuresStates beside Russia and its ally Belarus have claimed asylum seekers are being flown from Africa and the Middle East and then transported to EU borders and pushed across in an effort to destabilise those states.
Henna Virkkunen, commission vice-president for democracy and security, said the “exceptional” nature of the weaponisation of migration by Russia, permitted countries to respond with temporary emergency measures. “We know that we have really moved to the next level of threat when we speak about our eastern border,” she said.
The commission said the number of asylum seekers crossing into the EU from Belarus had increased by 66 per cent this year, with the Polish border being one of the main points of entry. The EU executive said this was in part due to Belarusian authorities “facilitating crossings”, by equipping migrants with ladders and other assistance.
Ms Virkkunen said in such exceptional circumstances EU states “may limit the right to asylum in these situations, but in strict conditions and in legal limits”. The commissioner said limits on the right to claim asylum had to be “very clearly defined” and temporary in nature. She did not directly respond to questions about whether this cleared countries to push back migrants over the border into Russia or Belarus.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fianna Fáil MEPs to back Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president in upcoming voteLabour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Independent Ireland’s Ciaran Mullooly also set to support appointment of new EU executive
Read more »
Fianna Fáil MEPs to back Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission in upcoming voteLabour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Independent Ireland’s Ciaran Mullooly also set to support appointment of new EU executive
Read more »
Spain’s Popular Party says damage caused by fatal floods comes under minister’s remitConservatives seeking to block appointment of minister Teresa Ribera to European Commission
Read more »
Romania: Pro-European parties pledge government to keep far-right out of powerFour parties also promise fresh presidential elections after the previous ballot was annulled by the country’s top court
Read more »
Irish buy into Black Friday shopping more than European peers, says PwCClose to two in three people expect to buy at least one item, with an average spend of €329
Read more »
Ryanair Launches European Flash Sale with Fares from €14.99Ryanair has initiated a 24-hour flash sale offering discounted fares on flights to over 235 destinations across Europe, available from as little as €14.99 one way, between January 1, 2025 and February 16, 2025.
Read more »