In a move to shape a more unified European approach to migration and asylum, the EU Parliament’s Asylum Contact Group has held the final meeting, nearing the completion of the reform.
Part of the Group’s meeting were representatives of the current Belgian Presidency of the EU Council and those of the previous four rotating presidencies – representatives of Spain, Sweden, Czechia, and France.
The meeting concluded a total of 17 months of collaboration on the matter, with the main aim being the finalisation of the EU migration and asylum rules before the 2024 European elections.
Expressing optimism about finalising the reform, the EU Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, said that the new approach would be both humane and fair towards those who seek protection in the bloc.
The same stressed that the framework will be strict against those who are not eligible to remain in the EU and those who do not follow the rules.
Europe will now get a robust legislative framework that is the same in all Member States. That functions and that protects, an approach that is humane and fair with those seeking protection that is firm with those who are not eligible, and that is strong with those who exploit the most vulnerable.
Elena Yoncheva, Chair of the Asylum Contact Group, also commented on the matter. She said that the agreement paves the way for a more coherent system, addressing the shortcomings of the existing rules.
Yoncheva further highlighted that the provisional political agreements reached on December 2023 marked a significant milestone.
The objective of our agreed cooperation to deliver one of the most important pieces of legislation in this mandate has been achieved, with provisional political agreements on the outstanding files of the Pact in December 2023.
The EU reached an agreement to reform its asylum and migration policy in December 2023.
The deal reached between the Members of the EU Parliament and national governments includes five regulations. These regulations outline how the asylum and migration flows will be shared among the Member States.
The rules also outline how Member States should deal with people who arrive at the EU’s external borders, identify those entering their territory, and process asylum applications.
The five proposals agreed on are Screening Regulation, Eurodac Regulation, Asylum Procedures Regulation, Asylum Migration Management Regulation, and Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation.
