European leaders seem to ardent letter writers, after Sarkozy’s and Berlusconi’s co-missive to EU Commission President Barroso, the latter has now replied. In the case of the Franco-Italian letter dealing with a – supposed – immigration crisis caused by more than 20,000 recent arrivals from Tunisia, most observers focused on the proposal of a temporary reestablishment of border controls in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
What seems to have passed completely unnoticed is that the two governmental leaders are also asking for the creation of a common European asylum policy, that until this goal has been attained at least a convergence of asylum norms should take place as soon as possible and that financial solidarity between member states concerning immigration issues should be reinforced (in other words a North-South transfer). Additionally, they argue for a stronger Frontex agency and for it to become the core of European border control system which should be developed. I think this is also called policy transfer to the EU level.
Barroso in his reply has agreed to at least consider the temporary reintroduction of border controls for immigration reasons as well (currently only security reasons are valid). Yet, he also proposes more financial resources for migration policy (which would of course be handled by the EU), he also wants to strengthen Frontex furnishing it with surveillance equipment and thus effectively creating a European border control force.
Now, I am the last to not be enraged at the French and Italian reaction to the – extremely small – number of Tunisian immigrants arriving in Lampedusa. I find it extremely hypocritical in fact, especially in light of the Tunisian reception of more than five times as many Libyan refugees on their soil. I also am aware of the relevance of Schengen as a symbol of European integration and accordingly the danger of its fissure. Still, I believe that most observers, that too much reporting focuses on supposedly grave dangers which far too often turn out to be nothing but mere words while in reality more and more policy areas are quietly (or rather while being vocally opposed) moved to the EU level. See the Eurozone crisis, the German government’s announcements and the factual emergence of a sort of European economic government for another example of this.
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