A coalition of European ministers from Germany, Austria, Poland, France, the Czech Republic, and Denmark are advocating for sanctions against countries that impede the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers. The proposal suggests leveraging trade, visas, and development aid to encourage cooperation on returns.

The ministers convened on Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, to discuss and formalize their approach. This initiative signals a move towards a more pragmatic and unified stance within the EU on addressing migration challenges.

Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek (S) highlighted the importance of linking cooperation with countries outside the EU to their willingness to accept the return of their citizens who are not authorized to reside in Europe. He emphasized that collaborative relationships should be contingent on effective repatriation efforts.

Traditionally, there has been reluctance to intertwine repatriation agreements with other forms of engagement, such as development aid, visas, or trade cooperation. However, this group of countries, including Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and France, appears to be shifting away from this approach.

Professor Marlene Wind, a political science expert specializing in the EU, emphasized the potential impact of a coordinated EU approach. She stated that a unified strategy would carry significantly more weight than individual bilateral efforts, suggesting that countries might disregard isolated demands from single nations.

The joint statement released by the participating countries calls for the utilization of all appropriate political measures and instruments, including visas, trade, and development assistance, to increase the number of returns and enhance overall migration management cooperation. The declaration underscores the urgency of establishing new agreements and arrangements to facilitate these objectives.