The European Commission welcomes the successful political agreement reached by Member States at the Home Affairs Council on 8 June on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which it presented in September 2020.

The President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen points out that “the agreement in the Council shows that the EU is strong and able to move forward together even on the most complex issues. With trust and cooperation, we can provide a European response to a challenge that we all have in common. This success could only be achieved with endurance and a strong effort from all involved. My heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the hard work, especially to Vice President Margaritis Schinas and Commissioner Ylva Johansson. They will continue to work closely with co-legislators to facilitate and support a timely agreement on the Pact.”

This is a truly significant development after years of intense negotiations. This agreement provides a good basis for negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council.

As the Commission points out, a general approach was reached in two main pillars of the Pact: the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation and the Asylum Procedure Regulation. This adds to the agreement already found in other pillars of the Pact. These proposals will enable a fairer, more efficient and sustainable system for managing asylum and immigration. The Pact provides for a common solution that ensures a balance between solidarity and responsibility between Member States.

The Commission stands ready to work with the European Parliament and the Council to ensure agreement on the Pact as set out in the common roadmap.