The movement of refugees and migration are at the centre of the world's attention. The European Parliament is actively involved in the adoption of new laws on illegal and regular immigration. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, it has been a full co-legislator with the Council, representing the Member States in these matters.
At EU level, the need for an urgent adoption of a comprehensive European Pact on asylum and migration and the problems in the Member States are discussed.
The situation in some countries such as Italy -and in particular on the island of Lampedusa- has become complicated again in 2023.
After the Parliament confirmed its position on the key proposals in April 2023, MEPs and Member States have held intensive negotiations with the aim of achieving meaningful solidarity and a fairer sharing of responsibility for migration management. This is a top priority for the European Parliament, which aims to complete the reform before the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
Members of the European Parliament and national governments reached a long-awaited agreement on Wednesday on the overhaul of EU legislation on asylum and migration.
Parliament and Council negotiators agree on the final form of five separate EU regulations setting out how Member States will contribute to the management of asylum and migration flows and what to do in the event of a sudden migration crisis. The rules also cover how to deal with people arriving at the EU's external borders, the processing of asylum applications and the identification of new arrivals.
Following the agreement, EP President Roberta Metsola said, "Today is a truly historic day as we have approved the Pact on Migration and Asylum, probably the most important legislative package of this mandate.
Europe will now have a solid legislative framework that is the same in all Member States. One that works and protects, an approach that is humane and fair to those who ask for protection, one that is firm towards those who are not entitled to it, and one that is firm towards those who abuse the most vulnerable.
Migration was the number one concern expressed by citizens across the Union in the 2019 election. Delivering on this package before the end of the year is a huge achievement for the constructive pro-European centre ahead of the start of an election year in Europe."
The new Asylum and Migration Management Regulation provides for mandatory solidarity for EU countries recognised as being under migratory pressure and allows other Member States to choose between relocating asylum seekers to their territory and making financial contributions. The text also sets out new criteria under which a Member State is responsible for assessing applications for international protection (the former Dublin rules). Read more details on this file (coming soon).
In response to the sudden increase in arrivals, the Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation introduces a mechanism to ensure solidarity and support measures for Member States facing an exceptional influx of third-country nationals leading to a collapse of their national asylum system. The rules also address the instrumentalisation of migrants, i.e. cases where migrants are used by third countries or hostile non-state actors to destabilise the EU, and provide for a possible temporary exemption from standard asylum procedures. Detailed information on this new mechanism can be found here (coming soon).
Under the new screening regulation, people who do not meet the conditions for entry into the EU will be subjected to a pre-entry screening for up to seven days, which includes identification, biometric data collection, health and security checks. The specific needs of children will be taken into account and each Member State will have an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure that fundamental rights are respected. More information on this agreement can be found here (coming soon).
The Asylum Procedures Regulation introduces a common procedure for granting and withdrawing international protection across the EU, replacing several national procedures. Asylum applications should be processed faster - up to six months for a first decision - with shorter time limits for manifestly unfounded or inadmissible claims and at EU borders. More information on the Regulation can be found here (coming soon).
Finally, the Eurodac reform aims to identify people entering the EU more effectively by adding facial images to fingerprints, including for children aged six and over. Authorities will be able to record whether someone could pose a security threat, whether they are violent or illegally armed. More details on this can be found here (coming soon).
Next steps
The preliminary agreement must be formally adopted by Parliament and the Council before it can become law. The co-legislators have committed to adopting the reform of EU migration and asylum rules before the European Parliament elections in 2024.
europarl.europa.eu/JaV
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