EU leaders, once critical of Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda asylum policy, are now looking to implement the same strategy for the Brussels bloc in an embarrassing U-turn.
On the eve of calling a snap election, Sunak received praise from Austria’s conservative chancellor, Karl Nehammer, who hailed the British Prime Minister as an asylum “pioneer”.
Nehammer indicated plans to introduce similar measures within the EU, stating his intention to “put asylum proceedings in safe third countries on the European Union‘s agenda too”.
Sunak has made the Rwanda plan a central part of his campaign, aiming to retain Tory voters and differentiate his policies from the opposition Labour Party. Nehammer is not alone in his admiration; Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed support for the idea. Meloni, who has controversially defended the safety of Rwanda as a resettlement location, recently led a group of 19 EU member countries in urging the European Commission to consider processing asylum applications outside EU territory.
The European People’s Party (EPP), poised to lead in the upcoming European elections, has echoed this sentiment in their manifesto, proposing the relocation of asylum seekers to “safe third countries.” This marks a significant shift from the EU’s initial response to the UK policy.
In 2022, EU Migration Commissioner Ylva Johansson criticised the UK plan, describing it as “inhumane”.
Sunak, during his recent visit to Austria, highlighted the growing international support for his approach, stating it is “increasingly clear that many other countries now agree” with his policy.
However, not all European leaders are on board. French President Emmanuel Macron recently condemned the idea, calling it a betrayal of European values. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also expressed scepticism, although he has agreed to examine the possibility under pressure from regional leaders.
The UK’s Supreme Court has ruled the Rwanda plan illegal, citing breaches of multiple domestic and international laws, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention.
Despite this, Sunak has pushed through legislation defining Rwanda as a safe country, though no flights have yet departed and likely won’t until after the UK general election in July, so EU leaders will have to wait to see its implementation.
The Prime Minister told LBC on Thursday: “If I’m elected, we will get the flights off after the election.”
The opposition Labour Party, currently leading in the polls, has promised to scrap the policy if elected, describing it as ineffective and costly. The European Commission’s official stance remains cautious, with a spokesperson calling for the UK to respect its international commitments.
While European leaders like Meloni and Nehammer support the concept, their proposals differ from the UK’s. For instance, Meloni’s agreement with Albania involves processing asylum applications there but allowing successful applicants to settle in Italy.