Share

cover art for Externalizing Migration Does Not Work, Says Liberal MEP Abir Al Sahlani

Radio Schuman

Externalizing Migration Does Not Work, Says Liberal MEP Abir Al Sahlani

Season 2, Ep. 40

The current migration debate is largely dominated by EU countries seeking to delegate migration management outside European territory, making borders increasingly impenetrable for asylum seekers and intensifying the return of migrants to their countries of origin.

But some countries including Spain or Belgium have also opposed the idea of outsourcing irregular migration and building migrant centres in non-EU countries. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a news conference after the European Council summit last week that he rejected Italy's model of processing asylum claims in centers built outside of the EU, saying it created more trouble than solutions. Instead, he pledged for a more humane approach to migration, which could also support the pensions of declining European populations. 

Today Al-Sahlani talked with Radio Schuman, and echoed the same sentiment. She criticised von der Leyen for being complicit with a group of countries that push for migration offshoring and condemned the lack of a clear commitment in the Council’s outcomes regarding the implementation of the first EU migration and asylum package, which was approved during the last legislative term.

A quick overview of the Agriculture and Fisheries meeting, where EU ministers are set to make some important decisions on Monday and Tuesday.

Also a look at the state of play of Italy-Albania deal. It seems that the centre still does not host anyone for the moment, because of an Italian court judgments did not confirmed the detentions.

On the last part of the show, we looked at why airlines are cutting their first-class - spoiler alert, they are commercialising an alternative.

Today's Radio Schuman is hosted by Shona Murray, and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques. Audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Europe Today is Euronews’ daily podcast hosted by Maria Tadeo and Méabh Mc Mahon, broadcasting directly from Brussels, at the heart of Europe.   


Every morning, we deliver the top and exclusive stories shaping the European Union (EU) and beyond.


Stay ahead with the key news and insights that matter in Europe today.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 24. President Trump dials down the rhetoric on Iran

    14:31||Season 3, Ep. 24
    On Europe Today, our daily Euronews podcast with Méabh Mc Mahon, we bring you updates on Greenland and Iran. Today: “we agree to disagree” — talks between the Foreign Ministers of Denmark and Greenland ended without resolution in Washington, as Donald Trump insists Greenland is vital for US security and NATO allies announce new troop deployments. Shona Murray breaks down the Greenland talks, our EU editor Maria Tadeo analyses Iran, and David McAllister, senior MEP and Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, joins us on global and EU foreign affairs.
  • 23. Metsola calls for action as Iranian regime is "on its last legs"

    14:46||Season 3, Ep. 23
    Title:  Metsola calls for action as Iranian regime "on its last legs"Description: On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast, presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we have an exclusive interview Roberta Metsola. The European Parliament president told Euronews that the EU has a "golden" opportunity to show its commitment to freedom. We also spoke with Pascal Lamy, former EU commissioner and former WTO boss.And our correspondent Shona Murray brings us the latest updates over president Trump's threats to acquire Greenland. 
  • 22. Trump’s Greenland stance is a major threat to NATO, says Margrethe Vestager

    14:45||Season 3, Ep. 22
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast, presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we are joined by the Danish politician Margrethe Vestager, former vice president of the European Commission. Our EU editor, Maria Tadeo, brings us the latest news on the situation in Greenland and the threats posed by US president Donald Trump. We also speak to our correspondent in Paris, Sophia Khatsenkova, about the appeal the far right leader Marine Le Pen is facing today in court and the consequences for the French presidential elections in France next year.
  • 21. Dominique de Villepin tells Trump not to intervene in Iran

    14:59||Season 3, Ep. 21
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast, presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we are joined by Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of France. De Villepin asks Trump and the EU "to find the right balance to not make things worse" in Iran. In our first show in 2026 we analyse what is going on in this very intense beginning of the year and our EU editor, Maria Tadeo, brings us the latest on the ongoing protests in Iran.
  • 20. 90 billion loan for Ukraine and EU-Mercosur trade deal on hold

    14:46||Season 3, Ep. 20
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast, presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we have a special edition zooming in on the European Council summit that lasted 16 hours long. Our EU news editor Maria Tadeo brings the latest on the 90 billion loan for Ukraine that will be raised by joint debt. We also speak to Sasha Vakulina, our Ukraine correspondent, on how this will impact Ukraine and we have the latest on how the Italian Prime Minster brought about the postponement of the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
  • 19. Tense summit underway in Brussels, but Luxembourg PM says he cannot be nervous

    14:46||Season 3, Ep. 19
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast, presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we zoom straight into the high stakes European Council summit taking place today in Brussels. From saving face on Ukraine, to stopping the Mercosur trade deal from falling off a cliff- big decisions on key issues will have to be made today. Our EU editor Maria Tadeo speaks to Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg who says he never gets nervous as a head of state. We also have sharp analysis from our senior correspondents Shona Murray and Sasha Vakulina on crucial funding for Ukraine. You can watch Euronews or visit our website for a live blog on the ongoing summit.
  • 18. Europe is our "destiny," says Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani

    14:50||Season 3, Ep. 18
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we are joined by Vjosa Osmani, the president of Kosovo who is in Brussels for an EU-Western Balkans summit. We also travel to Strasbourg where MEPs are meeting for an action-packed session ahead of the Christmas holidays. Our Euronews EU editor Maria Tadeo speaks to EU Commissioner for housing Dan Jørgensen about the first ever EU strategy for housing.
  • 17. "Don't sacrifice the farmers for the profit of some multinationals" says MEP Thomas Waitz

    14:31||Season 3, Ep. 17
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we travel to Strasbourg to hear from Maria Tadeo, our EU news editor about how Rome is stuck between protecting farmers and maintaining exports to South America. We are also joined by Thomas Waitz, Austrian MEP for the Greens who is an ecological farmer by trade. For an update on the Ukraine peace talks in Berlin, we travel to the German capital to speak to our correspondent Laura Fleischmann who tells us about the German chancellor's great relationship with President Trump.
  • 16. Trump "is very damaging" for climate, says architect of Paris Agreement

    14:51||Season 3, Ep. 16
    On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we are joined by Laurence Tubiana, the architect of the 2015 Paris Agreement. We also get the latest news on talks to end the war in Ukraine from our EU editor Maria Tadeo. Finally, our political correspondent, Stefan Grobe, brings us the latest on the shooting in Bondi Beach, Australia.