“We will not allow a repeat of 2015”: EU prepares for possible migrant crisis from the Middle East 0 12

“We will not allow a repeat of the events of 2015,” said von der Leyen to reporters after the summit of EU leaders held on Thursday in Brussels, emphasizing that “while we do not currently observe migration flows into Europe, we must be prepared.”

“We have learned lessons from the past, and today we are better prepared,” she added.

The topic of migration was not planned as one of the main issues at the summit in Brussels; however, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged the EU to prepare for a possible increase in migration amid the escalating situation in the Middle East.

Ten years ago, millions of people fled to Europe, particularly from Syria, where a civil war was taking place. In 2015 alone, more than one million people applied for asylum in the EU.

In a joint statement following the summit, the leaders of the bloc indicated that “the EU is ready to fully mobilize its diplomatic, legal, operational, and financial tools to prevent uncontrolled migration flows into the EU and ensure security in Europe.”

“We cannot risk a repeat of the refugee and migrant flows into the EU that were seen in 2015–2016,” noted Frederiksen and Meloni in a letter sent on Wednesday to the leadership of the European Commission, the European Council, and other EU leaders.

The leaders of Denmark and Italy called on the European Commission to consider mechanisms that could act as an “emergency brake” in the event of large-scale migration movements.

Frederiksen mentioned in an interview with Danish television a possible solution involving a rule that would allow not admitting asylum seekers at the border.

International organizations and the European Commission stated that they currently do not see signs of large-scale refugee flows from the Middle East to Europe. However, the ongoing conflict has already caused the displacement of millions of people in the region.

Frederiksen and Meloni urged for increased assistance on the ground to prevent mass migration to Europe, noting in their letter that “we can help more people more effectively by providing support directly in the regions of their origin.”

Meloni is known for her tough stance on migration issues, while Frederiksen is preparing for parliamentary elections scheduled for next week. Political parties in Denmark have long been competing with each other in calls for stricter migration policies.

EU countries have been discussing the possibility of further tightening new rules within the common asylum system, which is set to come into effect in June.

The aim is to achieve a more even distribution of asylum seekers among member states and to expedite the processing of applications. Additionally, in recent years, the EU has expanded cooperation with several third countries to prevent unwanted migration.