Summary of the day
Negotiators from the European parliament and the Council of the EU reached a political agreement on a new migration and asylum pact.
The deal would allow EU countries to choose between relocating asylum applicants and making financial contributions.
It also includes a pre-entry screening procedure, a new common procedure across the EU to grant protection and a mechanism to ensure solidarity in a scenario where there is an exceptional influx.
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the pact “means that Europeans will decide who comes to the EU and who can stay, not the smugglers. It means protecting those in need.”
Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, said “today is truly a historic day” and that “we can manage to showcase this unprecedented reform before next year’s elections.”
Swedish MEP Tomas Tobé, a member of the centre-right European People’s party, said that “the new rules will allow us to regain control over our external borders and reduce the migration pressure towards the EU.”
Iratxe García Pérez, who leads the Socialists and Democrats group, said “we managed a deal that not only focus on border protection but also contains solidarity with refugees as well as between member states, and upholds the right to asylum”.
The French MEP Fabienne Keller, from the Renew Europe group, said “we have proven the extremists on the left and right wrong. Finally, we will have a strong common asylum system based on responsibility and solidarity.”
The Green group said the deal is “unworkable.” Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts, the group’s co-president, said “this will undermine the right to asylum, international law and human rights.”
The Left group in the European parliament responded to the deal saying it’s a “dark day for the EU.”
Amnesty International said that the agreement “will lead to a surge in suffering for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants on every step of their journey.”
Save the Children said the deal “will lead to blatant violations of children’s rights, will endanger children on the move, and will lead to further separation of migrant families.”
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles argued that the changes were based on two “false premises”.
Oxfam said “the EU missed the opportunity to finally agree on better responsibility-sharing and solidarity rules. Instead, they agreed on more detention, including of children and families in prison-like centres.”
Updated
Orbán defends Trump: 'Is this fake news?!?!?!'
Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has reacted to news that the Colorado supreme court declared Donald Trump ineligible to hold office again under the US constitution’s insurrection clause.
Is this fake news?!?!?!
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 20, 2023
Keep on fighting, @realDonaldTrump! The world needs you! 🫵https://t.co/FZownDnkNS
