European Parliament pledges to reform rules on migration, asylum ahead of 2024 elections

By Hafsa Alami

PARIS (AA) – European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the deputies in charge of parliament’s position on the pact on asylum and migration held a news conference Wednesday in Brussels at the end of long negotiations.

The European Commission proposed a new pact on asylum and migration in September 2020 to improve procedures and reach an agreement on the fair sharing of responsibilities between member states and on solidarity in the management of migration flows. Parliament approved its main mandates in April.

Parliament and council negotiators have agreed on the final form of five separate EU regulations, which define how to share the management of asylum and migration flows between member states and what to do in the event of a sudden migration crisis.

The rules also govern how to treat those arriving at the EU's external borders, processing asylum applications and identifying those who arrive.

They include that member states can choose between welcoming asylum seekers and paying financial contributions; addressing crises and the exploitation of migrants and asylum seekers; asylum applications will be examined more quickly; better identification on arrival, including facial photo and fingerprints, for children 6 and older and mandatory health and security checks for those entering the EU irregularly

“Today is a truly historic day and emotional moment, because we have implemented the pact on migration and asylum, probably the most comprehensive legislative package most important of this mandate,” said Metsola. “This is an agreement that is more than 10 years in the making. Now the parliament came to this negotiation on the migration pact with a very pragmatic line”, she said at a news conference.

“Europe needs a robust legislative framework that is humane and fair with those who are seeking protection, that is firm with those who are not eligible, and that is strong with those who exploit the most vulnerable,” she added.

European Parliament member Tomas Tobe believes the deal will rebuild trust, not only between member states but also for citizens who want migration to be handled in a better way.

“I would say for migrants that are now in the hands of smugglers and many of them even unfortunately die on the Mediterranean Sea. We are now slowly taking back the control with cooperation in third countries and also make sure that we have a policy that will work also on the ground,” he said.

As for Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, rapporteur for the crisis and force majeure regulation, he said prima facie international protection was a very strong point for the European Parliament’s negotiating team, so member states could provide immediate protection to certain categories of vulnerable human beings.

Answering the question about the construction of reception centers, rapporteur for the Regulation on Asylum Procedures, Fabienne Kellet, insisted that they should not be considered “detention centers” but “waiting zones,” promising to talk to NGOs about the issue.

She also added that the structures will not be necessarily physically on the border, since they will need competent personnel, educators, guardians and police officers.

The provisional agreement must be formally adopted by parliament and the Council before it can take effect.

The co-legislators committed to adopting the reform of European rules on migration and asylum before the 2024 European elections.