The European Commission has agreed to Poland’s controversial plan to suspend the right to asylum for a limited time in response to migration flows directed against the EU’s eastern border by Russia and Belarus.
This approval extends to other countries facing similar challenges, such as Finland, which has introduced emergency laws allowing border guards to turn migrants back without processing asylum claims.
Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for the German government, emphasized that such measures must be proportional, temporary, and strictly necessary for security. The Commission’s new guidelines allow EU member states to take exceptional measures in cases of migration-related security threats, including limiting asylum rights, under stringent conditions.
The decision marks a shift for the EU, as Brussels had previously warned Poland about its asylum proposal in October. However, following further discussions and national security justifications, the plan was approved, with EU leaders stating that exceptional situations require appropriate measures.
The latest figures show significant increases in illegal border crossings, particularly on the Polish-Belarusian border, with migrants from conflict zones like Syria, Ethiopia, and Somalia making up a large portion of arrivals.
While the new guidelines allow for some flexibility, concerns remain about their compliance with international law, particularly regarding forced returns of migrants, which Human Rights Watch has criticized.
