Czechia among EU states calling for “new ways” to address migration

Fifteen EU states, including Czechia, have called for “new ways” to handle illegal migration, including making deals with third countries along the main migrant routes which would ease the burden on the bloc member states. In a letter to the European Commission the member states have urged changes to the bloc’s asylum policy that would include mechanisms to detect and intercept migrants on land and at sea and place them in “partner” third countries outside the EU, while their request for asylum is being processed. The letter cites as a model a controversial deal Italy has struck with Albania, under which thousands of asylum seekers picked up at sea can be taken to holding camps in the non-EU Balkan country, while their case is assessed. Czech parties critical of the migration pact says the question of illegal migration should not be solved on EU ground.