EU member states and legislators achieved consensus on Wednesday regarding a comprehensive reform of the bloc’s asylum and migration laws, according to officials.
The revised approach encompasses expeditious screening of irregular arrivals, establishment of border detention facilities, hastened deportations for denied asylum seekers, and the introduction of a solidarity mechanism to alleviate the burden on southern countries facing substantial inflows.
Spain, in its capacity as the EU presidency overseeing the protracted negotiations, announced on the platform X (formerly Twitter): “A political agreement has been reached on the five files of the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum.”
Expressing satisfaction, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas remarked, “It’s been a long road to get here. But we made it. Europe is finally delivering on migration.”
Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that “migration is a common European challenge — today’s decision will allow us to manage it together.”
Formal approval from the European Council, representing the 27 EU member states, and the European Parliament is still required before the agreement becomes part of the bloc’s legal framework.
The migration issue has assumed heightened political significance in Europe, with the ascent of nationalist anti-immigrant parties in various EU nations such as Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Negotiators aimed to secure a functional agreement that could be implemented before the current European Parliament’s term concludes in June 2024.
However, numerous charitable organizations supporting migrants, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Caritas, and Save the Children, have criticized the proposed changes. In an open letter, they argued that the package would establish a “cruel system” that is impractical.
Accelerated vetting
Built upon a commission proposal introduced three years ago, the overhaul maintains the existing principle that designates the first EU country an asylum-seeker enters as responsible for their case. However, in order to assist countries facing a high influx of arrivals, particularly Mediterranean nations like Italy, Greece, and Malta, a mandatory solidarity mechanism will be established.
Under this mechanism, a specified number of migrants will be relocated to other EU countries. Alternatively, countries unwilling to accept migrants will be required to provide a financial or material contribution to those that do.
The proposed reform also aims to expedite the screening and vetting process for asylum-seekers, ensuring swift return for those deemed ineligible to their home country or country of transit. This procedure, involving the establishment of border detention centers, will be applied to irregular migrants from countries where asylum requests by their nationals are rejected in over 80 percent of cases.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) secured assurances that families with young children will have suitable conditions. Additionally, monitoring will be implemented to safeguard the rights of detained migrants, and free legal advice will be provided, as stated by MEP Fabienne Keller.
Another notable aspect is the introduction of a “surge response,” allowing for temporary restrictions on protections for asylum-seekers during periods of significant inflows. This provision is reminiscent of the measures taken during the 2015-2016 period when the EU experienced a substantial arrival of over two million asylum-seekers, many from war-torn Syria.
The EU is currently witnessing a surge in irregular migrant arrivals and asylum requests. In the first 11 months of the current year, the EU border agency Frontex recorded over 355,000 irregular border crossings into the bloc, marking a 17 percent increase. The EU Agency for Asylum estimates that the number of asylum-seekers this year could surpass one million.
