00:00The European Commission is expected to further tighten migration policy following the SOTA crisis, with three major options under consideration.
00:08Around 80,000 people entered the Spanish exclave in a single day on July 30, increasing pressure for tougher EU
00:14-wide rules.
00:15The most significant proposal would allow countries to temporarily suspend asylum rules in response to sudden large-scale arrivals.
00:23Under current rules, foreign nationals present in an EU country can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered, with
00:30their claims assessed individually.
00:32A second option would expand the powers of the EU border agency Frontex, potentially giving it a greater role in
00:39surveillance, returns and cooperation with Turk countries.
00:42The Commission has already proposed 12 billion euros for Frontex under the next seven-year EU budget, while its staff
00:49could eventually triple to 30,000 officers.
00:53The third option involves EU funding for so-called return hubs outside the bloc where irregular migrants could be deported.
01:00The Commission's next budget proposal allocates 74 billion euros to migration management.
01:05All three options have backing from the European People's Party, while NGOs and left-wing groups are expected to oppose
01:12further restrictions.
01:13Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could announce the changes in her State of the Union speech this week.
01:18We will continue to do so.
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