The European Parliament today approved ten pieces of legislation to reform European immigration and asylum policy, as agreed with EU Member States.

Last year, the EU received 1.14 million applications for international protection, the highest figure in seven years, and recorded 380,000 irregular border crossings, half of them via the Central Mediterranean route.

The negotiation of the new legislative package, known as the migration and asylum pact, took three years to reach a final decision with the EU calling it a historic decision.

The plan aims to resolve a long-standing source of tension within the EU as some countries do more than others. It aims to reduce the time for security and asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders while other countries are obliged to resettle more migrants or provide financial compensation, operational assistance, a provision known as the “solidarity mechanism”.

Solidarity and responsibility

In order to help EU countries under migratory pressure, other Member States will contribute by transferring asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection to their territory, by making financial contributions or by providing operational and technical support. The criteria according to which a member state is responsible for examining applications for international protection, the so-called Dublin rules, will also be updated.

The regulation on asylum and migration management, by rapporteur Tomas TOBÉ (SE, EPP), was supported by 322 votes to 266 with 31 abstentions.

Dealing with crisis situations

The crisis and force majeure regulation establishes a mechanism to respond to sudden increases in arrivals, ensuring solidarity and support to Member States facing a large influx of third-country nationals. The new rules will also cover the instrumentalization of migrants, i.e. when they are used by third countries or hostile non-state actors to destabilize the EU.

The bill, by rapporteur Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D), was approved with 301 votes in favor, 272 against and 46 abstentions.

Control of third-country nationals at EU borders

People who do not meet the requirements to enter the EU will be subject to a pre-screening process, including identification, biometric data collection and health and safety checks, for a period of up to seven days. Member States should establish independent monitoring mechanisms to ensure respect for fundamental rights.

The text, by the rapporteur Birgit SIPPEL (DE, S&D), was adopted with 366 votes in favour, 229 and 26 abstentions. MEPs also approved new rules for the Central Conviction Information System (ECRIS-TCN), with 414 votes in favour, 182 against and 29 abstentions.

Faster asylum procedures

A new common procedure will be established across the EU for granting and withdrawing international protection. The processing of asylum applications at EU borders should in future be faster, with shorter deadlines for unfounded or inadmissible applications.

The bill, by rapporteur Fabienne KELLER (France, Renew), was approved with 301 votes in favour, 269 against and 51 abstentions. For the process of returning to the border, the result was 329 votes in favor, 253 against and 40 abstentions.

Eurodac regulation

The data of those arriving irregularly in the EU, including fingerprints and facial images from the age of six onwards, will be stored in the reformed Eurodac database. Authorities will also be able to record whether someone might pose a security threat or if they were violent or armed.
The text, by the rapporteur Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ES, ECR), was approved with 404 votes in favour, 202 against and 16 abstentions.

Qualification standards

Parliament also supported new uniform standards for all member states on the recognition of refugee or subsidiary protection status and on the rights granted to those who qualify for protection. Member States will have to assess the situation in the country of origin based on information from the EU Asylum Service and the refugee status will be regularly reviewed. Applicants for protection should remain in the territory of the Member State responsible for their application or in which protection was granted.

Led by rapporteur Matjaž NEMEC (SI, S&D), the text was adopted with 340 votes in favour, 249 against and 34 abstentions.

Reception of asylum seekers

Member States should ensure equivalent reception standards for asylum seekers in terms of, for example, housing, schooling and healthcare. Registered asylum seekers will be able to start working no later than six months after submitting their application. Detention conditions and restrictions on freedom of movement will be regulated to discourage applicants from moving to the EU.

The rapporteur was Sophia IN ‘T VELD (NL, Renew) and it was approved with 398 votes in favour, 162 against and 60 abstentions.

Safe and legal route to Europe

Under a new framework for resettlement and humanitarian admission, Member States will offer, on a voluntary basis, to host refugees from third countries recognized by UNHCR who will travel to EU territory with a legal , organized and safe way.
The bill, by rapporteur Malin BJÖRK (SE, The Left), was approved with 452 votes in favour, 154 against and 14 abstentions.

Next steps

Once the package is formally approved by the Council, the laws will come into force after being published in the Official Gazette. The regulations are expected to come into effect in two years. For the Reception Conditions Directive, Member States will have two years to introduce the changes into their national legislation.

Eliza Voseberg: Significant benefits for Greece from the new legislation on asylum and immigration

The importance of the new legislation on asylum and immigration for the member states of first reception “which have shouldered for a number of years a disproportionate immigration burden”, mentioned in her intervention in the Plenary of the EP, the MEP of the ND, Eliza Vosenberg – Vryonidis, who is also rapporteur on behalf of the EPP in the Regulation for dealing with situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of asylum and immigration.

It is recalled that this afternoon the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels approved the legislative package on immigration and asylum, “which sets harmonized rules throughout the EU.” for the management of migration and provides for strengthening controls at the external European borders, as well as a mandatory solidarity mechanism”.

In particular, as mentioned in the relevant announcement of Ms. Vosenberg, the regulation on situations of crisis and force majeure allows member states to deal with sudden and massive influxes of third-country nationals, derogating from the general provisions, always respecting the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.

In particular, he notes that “in fact, the inclusion of the instrumentalization of immigrants in the scope of this Regulation is an important achievement, as it is a constant practice of third countries – such as Turkey – with the aim of destabilizing the EU” and underlines that “the final legislation is the result of intensive negotiations that lasted more than 4 years and comes to give a resounding answer to those who accuse the European Union of being unable to respond to the big and serious problems of the citizens”.