World Insight: Ukraine aid, migration settlement take center stage at EU Summit

BRUSSELS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — The European Council’s summit concluded here on Thursday, wrapping up in a single day, unlike the previous summit, which spanned two.
While European leaders discussed Ukraine and migration, it remains uncertain if they will fully endorse Ukraine’s plan or the “return hubs” for third-country migration, reflecting their ongoing divisions.

UKRAINE’S “VICTORY PLAN” MAKE LITTLE SPLASH
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pitched his “victory plan” to European leaders on Thursday’s summit one day after he presented to the Ukrainian parliament, pressing them to support his demand for an immediate NATO invitation and appealing for increased military aid for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
He received some assurance from European Council President Charles Michel, who stated: “We will explore ways to accelerate more immediate military and financial support for the people of Ukraine.”
However, European Union (EU) leaders wrapped up their discussions on Ukraine without in-depth discussions on the peace plan pitched by Zelensky, POLITICO Europe reported, citing an EU diplomat.
Analysts believe the EU’s limited action in aiding Ukraine is due to the continued presence of opposing voices within the bloc.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said before leaving for the European Council that the European Council represents a “military cabinet” because “it only deals with how many more bullets will be sent to Ukraine.”
Before the European Council meeting, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also wrote in a Facebook post to Zelensky’s victory plan. “What he outlined yesterday in the Ukrainian parliament was more than frightening,” he said, adding that instead of sending more weapons to Ukraine, a cease-fire and peace negotiations are needed.
“The European Union went into this war with a badly organized, badly executed, badly calculated strategy, for which the President of the Commission bears the main responsibility. We are losing this war, so the strategy is not working,” Orban wrote.
He also expressed his intention to urge German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron to negotiate with the Russians “on behalf of the entire EU” as soon as possible to “find a way out of this situation.”

NO UNITY ON “RETURN HUBS”
EU leaders also discussed establishing “return hubs” in non-EU countries as temporary settlement sites for asylum seekers whose applications in the EU were denied and who are awaiting deportation to their home countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said there was no clear definition or consensus yet on what constitutes a “safe third country” following the discussion.
Italy has already formally opened two refugee processing centers in Albania, the first time an EU country has operated migrant facilities outside the bloc, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof is mulling sending rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda.
However, other leaders expressed skepticism or rejection.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters after the European Council meeting that he rejected the notion of creating so-called “return hubs” outside the EU.
“We are not in favor of these kinds of formulations. They don’t solve any problems and create others,” Sanchez said.
He also emphasized the significance of migration for Spain’s economy and its role in addressing the country’s “demographic challenge,” particularly in light of its aging population and future needs.
Scholz considers the “return hubs” to be unfeasible for Germany.
“If you look at the figures, (such concepts) are not really the solution for a country as large as Germany,” the German chancellor told reporters at his arrival. He stressed that the EU needs “deportations in accordance with the European law.”

SHARP RIGHT SHIFT SWAYS MIGRATION POLICY
The tightening of migration policies in key European countries reflects their evident rightward shift in the political landscape.
In September, Germany’s Alternative for Germany party made big gains in the Thuringia state election — the first victory for a far-right party in Germany since World War II.
During the same month, Germany reinstated checks at all its land borders to curb illegal immigration and address security concerns.
The election gains by the far-right parties also occurred in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium. The Netherlands and Sweden were among the countries that followed Germany’s lead by introducing temporary border controls, even though the move contradicted one of the EU’s core principles.
“We see that there is a different atmosphere in Europe,” said Schoof, referring to the much-hostile migration positions among EU leaders. Schoof heads a government dominated by the party of far-right Geert Wilders. ■