Imagine a room full of serious-looking people, all trying to figure out how to manage immigration to the EU. This happened in Warsaw, where European ministers met to discuss ways to beef up their approach to irregular migration.  They found themselves thinking about a certain Mr. Trump

        Donald Trump has made a splash in European conversations about migration tactics.  This all came from his recent actions against Colombia. He threatened Colombia with huge fines for stopping his military planes carrying migrants.

        This move by Trump got people's attention in Europe. In their minds, it raised the question: Could a bit of pressure help the EU deal with countries that don't return their migrants?

        European leaders gathered in Warsaw had to weigh in on this.  One, Anders Hall from Sweden, suggested that Europe's approach should involve a mix of incentives and pressure.  This means the EU should use tools like visas and trade deals to encourage cooperation.  But some felt that a bit more pressure might do the trick too.

        The EU currently struggles to send back even 20% of the people they order to leave.  This is a big problem, especially with right-wing politicians gaining power and pushing for tougher migration policies.

        "Since Trump's actions are so visible, leaders can't avoid talking about them. The EU may not act as fast as Trump, but they still want innovative solutions.  Some even wish they could be as efficient as Trump in changing policies. Some suggested that Europe needs a fine-tuned approach. There's no one-size-fits-all model for European migration.

        Magnus Brunner, an EU official, urged people to focus on Europe's own issues rather than getting distracted by Trump.  Many European countries are facing labor shortages and need to revamp their economies. This means they need to be strategic about how they handle migration.  They have to think about what works best for their countries. They can't just copy Trump's bold, quick moves.

        Some EU leaders are even thinking about setting up "return hubs" outside Europe.  These hubs would temporarily hold failed asylum seekers until they can be sent back home. But don't think it's going to be smooth sailing.  The idea has a lot of legal and ethical questions.

        The EU's border agency reported a 38% drop in irregular migrants entering Europe last year. But to many, that's not enough

        So, what's next for Europe?  They need to find a way to balance their need for workers with their approach to migration.  But be warned, it won't be an easy task.  It's a complicated world out there.

Europe's Migration Dilemma: Lessons from Trump's Strong-Arm Tactics

Actions