AFET Presentation

AFET, which stands for Committee on Foreign Affairs, is one of the 5 committees present in the MEP Mediterranean Region of 2025. The delegates should be aware of the basic fundamentals of each committee. However, not all can dive deeper into every specific aspect. By reading this introduction, you can get to know more about what kind of issue that AFET inquires in for this session. 

For this session, AFET discusses the question of how the EU should deal with neighboring countries to control migration. Recently, the European Parliament has accepted the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Its purpose is to renew the rules of migration and build a universal asylum system. The main four aims of this pact are an effective system of solidarity and responsibility, fast and efficient procedures, secure external borders and embedding migration in international partnerships. 

Effective system of solidarity and responsibility focuses on strengthening the framework of unification. Fast and efficient procedures are associated with setting up clear criteria for asylums. Secure external borders means enhancing the level of security through harsh identification. Embedding migration in international partnerships intends to prevent illegal movement of population and promote proper pathways. These goals are to be reached by the financial support of the EU funds. 

The pact overall heightens the sense of responsibility of the EU countries when they are dealing with migration. However, this positive change is receiving harsh criticism from the civil society which handles certain non-EU countries where the people can’t access the EU’s policy of free movement. They are called “third countries”. 

Migration is a teamwork of various countries in order to make the world a more humane place for the vulnerable. When third countries keep the refugees away from the asylum procedures of the EU, it is inevitable that the EU will need to invest time and money to come to an agreement with them. However, the resources the EU yields are finite and because of the escalating tension of global politics, the EU has to be cautious of where to spend the revenue. 

So, the EU has to determine to what extent should the investment be when dealing with migration control with other countries. Currently, the EU has to establish their unique national defense system in order to prepare for the United States’ rather radical policy. If revenue decreases due to excessive expenditure related to migration control, the EU countries won’t be able to defend their own citizens. 

Even if the investment continues, it is most likely to be challenging to enforce the respect of Human Rights. Each country has their own background of economy, geopolitics, history and more. Even though human rights are obligatory, because of the countries’ characteristics, causing a shift in the perspective of how the countries treat the refugees is assumed to be difficult and time consuming.

Hoping that the delegates are now fully aware of what AFET aims to inquire about for this session, they are obliged to form resolutions with extended knowledge. By reflecting on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the delegates must balance human rights, international relations, and EU limitations to shape a fair and effective migration policy.