Who decides who belongs in Europe? MEPs debate migration in The Ring

Immigration has returned to the centre of the European political agenda, and with it, some of the toughest questions facing the European Union today.

Across Brussels and national capitals, lawmakers are debating whether to apply the “safe third country” concept and create an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin to speed up asylum procedures.

At the same time, Spain has moved ahead with a large-scale regularisation plan granting legal status to thousands of migrants already living and working in the country, a step that supporters say will strengthen labour markets and foster integration, but critics fear could alter migration dynamics across the Schengen area.

This week on The Ring, Euronews’ weekly political debate show from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, two influential lawmakers take different sides.

Juan Fernando López Aguilar, a Spanish MEP from the Socialists & Democrats group and Chair of the Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE), argues that migration policy must balance control with respect for international law and fundamental rights. Tomas Tobé, a Swedish MEP and Vice-Chair of the centre-right European People’s Party, also serving on LIBE, underscores the need for more efficient border management and returns.

Their heated exchange highlights a central tension in the EU’s migration debate: how to uphold both control and compassion, and whether national initiatives and EU-wide rules can be aligned in practice.

As Europe grapples with new proposals and shifting political priorities, migration once again proves to be more than a policy issue. It is a test of how the Union defines belonging, responsibility and its shared future.

This episode of The Ring is anchored by Maria Tadeo, produced by Luis Albertos and Amaia Echevarria, and edited by Vassilis Glynos.

Watch The Ring on Euronews TV or in the player above and send us your views by writing to thering@euronews.com