By Ben Kerrigan-
The European Parliament has given the green light to a significant overhaul of the EU’s migration and asylum rules with the approval of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.
The long-awaited reform, in the works since 2015, aims to streamline the asylum process, enhance the return of irregular migrants to their home countries, and ensure shared responsibility among EU member states.
The pact, set to take effect in two years’ time, represents a concerted effort to address the challenges posed by irregular migration, which reached a peak last year with approximately 380,000 individuals illegally crossing the EU’s borders – the highest number since 2016.
Key provisions of the agreement include mandatory solidarity among member states and a commitment to process asylum requests within a maximum of 12 weeks.
Under the proposed rules, EU countries will be required to either accept quotas of migrants from frontline nations like Italy, Greece, and Spain or provide additional financial support and resources.
The pact also introduces stringent pre-entry screening procedures, including biometric data collection for migrants aged six and above, and establishes mechanisms to manage sudden increases in arrivals.
The reform has garnered support from major political groups within the European Parliament, with both the centre-right European People’s Party Group (EPP Group) and the centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) backing the initiative.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed it as a “historic, indispensable step,” emphasizing the balance it strikes between solidarity and responsibility.
However, opposition to the pact remains, particularly from right-wing governments like Hungary and Poland.
Hungarian authorities have categorically stated their refusal to accept irregular migrants, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has denounced certain aspects of the pact as “unacceptable.”
Despite the approval by the European Parliament, criticism persists from various quarters. Left-wing and far-right groups have voiced their opposition, and many NGOs have raised concerns about the potential negative impact on asylum seekers.
Amnesty International warns that the pact could lead to increased suffering for vulnerable individuals, while grassroots organizations like Choose Love caution against the harsh treatment of refugees, including the detention of children and violent pushbacks.
Image: Ciro Fusco /ANSA