Brussels is facing further desertions from its refugee relocation scheme, with its flagship policy in danger of becoming defunct.
Migrants arrive in Italy aboard a fishing boat (Image: Getty)
A Sinn Fein politician has called on the Republic of Ireland to quit the EU’s migrant relocation scheme, in another body blow for Brussels. Known as Pact on Migration and Asylum, the scheme obligates member states to share the burden of accommodating refugees.
Countries must accept a quota of asylum seekers, pay for each person they decline to take in, or offer another form of assistance. However, the EU modified its rules to allow certain states facing a surfeit of migrants to opt out of the programme. The opt out applies to six countries – Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia and Estonia.
Sinn Fein’s Matt Carthy says Brussels is undermining Irish sovereignty (Image: Getty)
So far both Poland and the Czech Republic have applied for exemption.
However, Sinn Fein is calling on the Republic of Ireland’s government to also quit the scheme in the wake of Labour’s decision to change the UK’s immigration laws.
Jim O’Callaghan – Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration – said the Republic may have to update its laws following Labour’s announcement on account of the Common Travel Area (CTA). His comments provoked a backlash from Sinn Fein, who said it was time to quit the EU relocation scheme.
Matt Carthy TD – a party spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration – said: “It is time for the government to recognise that the EU Migration and Asylum Pact is not right for Ireland and our unique circumstances and challenges.
“What we are seeing from Minister O’Callaghan’s comments in relation to the impact of the changes in Britain is that signing up the EU Migration and Asylum Pact while part of a Common Travel Area with Britain will only lead to even more chaos.
“Sinn Féin opposed and continues to oppose moves which undermine Irish sovereignty, hand over more powers to the EU and impede our ability to make decisions in areas such as migration.”
The CTA is a special agreement between the UK and Ireland that allows British and Irish citizens to travel, live, and work freely between the two countries without needing passports or visas for most travel. It also includes the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Labour has introduced a number of new laws in a bid to clamp down on immigration to the UK. The changes include limiting refugees to temporary stays, overhauling human rights law to help increase deportations, and threatening countries with visa bans unless they accept the return of criminals and illegal immigrants.
The proposals have met stiff resistance from Labour MPs, at least 20 of whom have publicly expressed their concern about the tough new measures.
