Patriots Break Through Firewall with Anti-Migration Amendments in Mali Resolution

When you’re used to being under a cordon sanitaire in Brussels, every little victory counts.

On Thursday, June 19th, the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group managed to break the anti-conservative alliance of the “center-right” EPP and the left-wing parties by convincing the former to back two of their amendments to a Parliamentary resolution on the current situation in Mali, where the local junta recently dissolved all political parties to solidify its oppressive rule.

The amendments in question—both heavily opposed by all left-wing parties—called on the EU Commission to address the urgent dangers of a new wave of mass migration from the Sahel region due to the growing instability, by holding the military administration accountable for controlling departures, and by cooperating on returns with both Mali and the nearby transit countries.

The second amendment aimed to honor the memory of European soldiers—58 French, five Dutch, two German, one Spanish, and one Portuguese—who died fighting jihadist forces in the African country at the request of local authorities.

“It’s about justice and recognition. Their sacrifice must transcend political divisions,” MEP Matthieu Valet from the French National Rally (RN), who submitted the amendments, told europeanconservative.com.

The first amendment is even more important, as it addresses an urgent and politically sensitive issue, “the rise in illegal immigration from Mali to Europe, driven by insecurity, political instability, and economic stagnation,” Valet explained.

“The adoption of this text sends a clear message: Europe’s migration policy must be firm, responsible, and sovereign,” the MEP said. “Moreover, we succeeded in breaking the cordon sanitaire that has too often prevented certain truths from being voiced within European institutions.”

Despite the Left’s opposition to these amendments, the full text of the resolution was adopted by near-unanimous support from all political parties in the Parliament.

The document calls on General Assimi Goïta—the interim president of Mali since the 2021 coup d’etat—to immediately reinstate the political parties and restore the country’s democratic framework, as well as to refrain from any actions against the political opposition that would further fuel the flames and instability in Mali and throughout the Sahel region.