On December 6th, the national conservative group Patriots for Europe (PfE) unveiled their most crucial political program yet, urging a complete overhaul of the EU’s migration policy.
In a document titled the ‘Budapest Declaration,’ introduced in the Hungarian Parliament, PfE calls for stronger protection of Europe’s borders, stricter control over illegal migration, and a commitment to preserving European cultural identity.
The declaration criticizes the EU’s Migration Pact, passed just before the June elections, for addressing only the consequences of illegal migration without tackling the root causes. It argues that the pact was rushed through, bypassing veto power and ignoring the will of European citizens. The PfE believes the pact is illegitimate and must be replaced with a new policy that aligns with the expectations of the public.
The Patriots’ proposal includes a range of measures:
- Enforcing a ban on illegal entry and only allowing migrants once their asylum request is approved.
- Establishing reception and deportation facilities in third countries, with clear asylum rules and a lifetime ban on illegal entrants (following Australia’s model).
- Streamlining deportation and pressuring non-cooperative countries.
- Expediting the evaluation of refugee status, deporting those convicted of crimes, and taking action against NGOs that support illegal migration.
- Encouraging member states to create family policies to address demographic challenges.
- Allowing countries to protect their borders independently if EU reforms are insufficient.
- Removing sanctions on states that defend their borders.
PfE believes these are the demands that most EU member states already support, as reflected in the recent EU Council summit. While the European Commission is working on a ‘Returns Directive,’ the Patriots argue that piecemeal updates won’t solve the core issue: the sovereignty of member states. The declaration concludes with a strong stance: “We insist on the prerogative of Member States to decide for themselves who they allow into their territory,” reinforcing their commitment to protecting Europe’s culture, sovereignty, and security.
