Germany has not introduced yet another plan to reform the EU asylum system There is no point in trying to determine whether the German proposal is reasonable or not, as it fundamentally fails to address the migrant problem.
At the root of the issue, is the fact that Europe has to regain control over who enters its territory. Until then, any so-called genius asylum scheme cooked up by the likes of France and Germany will fail to help.
The Visegrad Group countries, which do not agree with the new German plan, are likely to be labeled as selfish as they refuse to accept any refugees. Although the migration currently excessively burdens southern European countries, V4 states are drawing attention to fundamental issues that need to be addressed in their refusal to join a mandatory quota system.
Firstly, promises should be kept, and after the collapse of the first attempt to implement a compulsory system to redistribute migrants, the EU promised such a redistribution scheme would not happen again.
Secondly, the basic rule of the Austrian school of economics also applies to migration: supply, not demand, is crucial.
Ultimately, Europe has to clearly state that only people entitled to asylum under the Geneva Conventions will be allowed to enter Europe.
In spite of all the proclamations, the reality is that if a migrant enters the European Union, he has a great chance to stay there, even if the authorities decide not to grant him asylum. Such an approach, of course, gives the potential migrants the impression that despite the considerable risks, it is worth it to sell everything at home, pack up his bags, and set out on a journey to Europe.
We can never stop migration altogether, and we must undoubtedly help those in need. At the same time, however, we should do everything we can to discourage as many people as possible who decide to leave their homes outside of Europe just because they are not that comfortable in them.
These people currently make up the majority of migrants, and, therefore, up to 90 percent of applicants do not pass the asylum procedure.
The problem is that Europe has no return policy. Only a small percentage of unsuccessful asylum seekers actually return home. It is crucial that these people are unable to enter the territory of the European Union in the first place.
They must learn that there is no automatic right to live in Europe. In a way, certain elements of the new German asylum proposal may be startling to these newcomers, such as the one that would prohibit migrants for choosing their destination, meaning they could end up in virtually any European country.
However, this is not a systemic solution. A real solution would be, for example, the long-promised move of immigration policy outside the borders of Europe. Thus, the EU embassies would decide who is entitled to asylum and who is not. The only other way to enter the EU would be through a work visa.
We have to clearly say: only real refugees can enter the EU. It may sound harsh, but it is the only sensible and humane way.
Uncontrolled illegal migration is not only a burden for certain countries, but it has also led to thousands of people unnecessarily dying at sea. Unfortunately, activists trying to bring as many migrants to Europe as possible give refugees false hope and encourage them to make the deadly journey.
Above all, the European Union views the problem from the wrong perspective as it focuses on the redistribution of migrants instead of trying to keep migration under control. The EU behaves like a foolish captain, who orders the crew to grab containers and spill water between the bulkheads evenly, instead of trying to plug the holes in his boat.
