The Council of the European Union recently adopted the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, setting forth a reform of its asylum and migration system. Despite opposition from countries like Hungary and Poland, the council pushed through this reform aimed at providing a more structured approach to arrivals, streamlining processes, and promoting equitable burden-sharing among member states.
Central to this pact are five principles, which include stringent regulations designed to extend applicant screening, health and security checks, expedite examination procedures, and provision of free counselling services. One of the pact’s salient features is the introduction of a “mandatory solidarity” system. This framework provides governments with three options for managing asylum seekers – relocate a specific number, pay €20,000 for each person denied, or fund operational support.
The path to the pact’s adoption saw significant hindrances. The idea was conceived during the 2015-2016 migration crisis, with over a million arrivals into the bloc. An updated approach was introduced in 2020 to distribute responsibility among member states and enhance procedural efficiency. However, Hungary and Poland stood as outspoken critics voting against the complete set of proposed reforms, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia abstained.
In spite of opposition and abstention, the new pact needed only a qualified majority for formal ratification, which it successfully achieved. The Council of Europe described this as a significant reform of the European asylum and migration system.
Nicole de Moor, the Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, praised the passage of the pact, stating it would secure a fairer and stronger migration system effectively implemented across the European Union, promoting solidarity among member states and continuing strong alliances with third countries to address the root causes of irregular migration.
Member states will now have two years to implement the laws, with the European Commission set to deliver an implementation plan later this year.
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