EU announces "five-point plan" to deal with illegal immigration

China News Service, Brussels, September 29 (Reporter Toku Yongjian) After the border immigration crisis occurred in Ceuta, Spain this summer, the European Union announced a "five-point plan" on the 29th to deal with the problem of illegal entry.

According to an announcement issued by the European Commission on the same day, the "Five-Point Plan" aims to prevent, warn and respond to illegal entry problems similar to the Ceuta migrant crisis, especially sudden large-scale illegal entry incidents, thereby enhancing the resilience and security of the EU's external borders.

The announcement shows that the EU’s “Five-Point Plan” covers five key aspects of the EU’s external border management. In the law enforcement aspect, it plans to expand the authority of the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency, including strengthening law enforcement capabilities, enhancing monitoring capabilities, playing a greater role in the repatriation process, and strengthening cooperation with partner countries.

In the early warning link, it is planned to strengthen social media monitoring through the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency, require member states to promptly report suspicious incidents to the EU border monitoring system, and require large online platforms, search engines and national authorities to share information in accordance with the EU's Digital Services Act.

In the repatriation process, it is planned to use trade, aid, visas and other means to promote third countries to re-accept deported illegal immigrants, expand the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency's authority to repatriate illegal immigrants, optimize digital processes to speed up the repatriation of illegal immigrants, etc.

In the fight against smuggling and human smuggling, it plans to increase sanctions on criminal suspects, allowing the EU to freeze the property of those involved within EU jurisdiction and ban them from entering the EU. Strengthen cooperation with online platforms, financial institutions and mobile payment companies to identify and trace illegal fund flows of criminal suspects.

In the prevention aspect, it plans to strengthen cooperation with partner countries, including launching the "Mediterranean Youth Skills and Employment" initiative, promoting the sharing of information, analysis and intelligence on migration trends and routes, and establishing an EU border monitoring system coordination center.

The European Commission stated in the announcement that after announcing the "five-point plan" on the 29th, EU member states will review the plan in early October. Call on member states to work in step with the EU and work together to promote the implementation of the plan. (over)