Migration in Europe: a Contemporary Perspective 

The migration crisis has become a chronic challenge for the European Union. From the very beginning, it was evident that the EU unsuccessfully struggled with unmanageable migration flows, particularly irregular migration. In 2023, the urgency to change migration policies resurfaced. According to the International Organization for Migration, the EU received over 1 million asylum applications, a 20% increase from the previous year. Additionally, Frontex reported over 442,000 illegal border crossings, the highest since 2016.

To address this, the Council of Europe adopted the Migration and Asylum Pact in April 2024. This reform package includes measures to regulate the asylum process and facilitate the expulsion of those denied asylum. Previously, such measures have already been applied in Italy on the initiative of Matteo Salvini. Italy has also repeatedly called for the establishment of a migrant resettlement mechanism for other European Union countries, because this southern European country has been one of the most affected by the consequences of the European migration crisis. The complex refugee situation in Italy is linked to the Dublin system, which requires the country of primary reception to process asylum applications.

Italy has become a destination for migrants using one of the most popular migration routes — the Central Mediterranean route. Therefore, the number of applications received exceeded the number that could be processed by the Italian authorities. Notably, this new Pact introduces mandatory migrant quotas for EU countries, requiring countries that refuse migrants to pay €20,000 per rejected migrant or fund operational support. Initially, 30,000 migrants are to be relocated. However, the effectiveness of this measure is questionable, as similar initiatives in the past faced challenges.

In 2015, the European Commission introduced the European Agenda on Migration, proposing a temporary emergency mechanism for refugee resettlement across the EU. It aimed to relocate 120,000 migrants from Greece and Italy over two years, but by 2016, only 885 were resettled.

The new pact's quota system has drawn criticism, particularly from Eastern European countries like Poland and Hungary, which have opposed migrant resettlement. This may exacerbate tensions within the EU, especially among countries unwilling to accept refugees or pay the fines. While this measure may ease the burden on primary receiving countries like Italy and Greece, it is unlikely to resolve the overall crisis or curb irregular migration. Furthermore, the issue of active criminal smuggling networks remains, as these networks adapt quickly to new policies and measures. 

The need for continuous cooperation and adjustments within the EU to effectively deal with the migration crisis is still visible. But even these reforms have been discussed for almost a decade. Therefore, achieving a comprehensive solution remains a challenge for Europe.