A number of countries are firmly against accepting more migrants as tensions rise within the European Union regarding the 2023 Immigration and Asylum Act, which is set to take effect by June 2026. This represents a significant shift in Europe’s approach to immigration, especially with upcoming elections.
The EU’s immigration agreement aims to balance the responsibility for managing asylum seekers between frontline states, like Italy and Greece, and other member nations. However, it’s already facing resistance from countries unwilling to accept relocated migrants. Instead of accepting more immigrants, these countries would prefer to provide financial and logistical support to those under immigration pressure.
Poland recently declared it would not participate in the EU’s migrant relocation plan, effectively exempting itself from the agreement.
Albert Horst Neidhardt, a senior policy analyst, pointed out that the refusal of member states to adhere to the agreed-upon rules could seriously undermine the credibility of Europe’s shared asylum system. He argued that if this situation occurs, it could lead to reinstated internal border controls within the Schengen area and potentially endanger the Union as a whole. He added that this might provoke a political backlash, especially as far-right parties gain influence.
Unlike the EU’s last migration crisis in 2015, Neidhardt noted that current governments are taking a more self-serving approach. This resistance to relocating immigrants reflects a larger international trend favoring stricter border policies and mechanisms to limit immigration.
As immigration and border control issues dominated the U.S. presidential election, several EU nations are preparing for their own elections, highlighting immigration and asylum policy as critical voter concerns.
In Ireland, for instance, immigration and asylum issues are key topics in the upcoming presidential election on October 25. Many rural residents believe the government is not adequately addressing the influx of asylum seekers, and nearly half of the voters are against establishing a nearby international protection center.
Similarly, the Netherlands is gearing up for a snap parliamentary election on October 29, after its coalition government collapsed over disagreements on immigration policy. In Portugal, immigration concerns are also expected to be a central focus in the presidential election scheduled for January 2026.
Right-wing parties in countries like Cyprus and Sweden have gained notable support amidst voter dissatisfaction regarding immigration issues during this election period. This trend signifies that left-leaning EU countries are wrestling with the implications of unregulated immigration, indicating that such populist policies are not merely confined to the U.S. but are becoming common responses across Europe.
With a growing populist electorate, countries are increasingly putting their citizens’ interests at the forefront of immigration discussions. The pushback against the EU’s migration agreement illustrates existing divisions among member states.
