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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Lili Bayer in Brussels

‘History made’ as EU parliament passes major migration and asylum reforms – as it happened

European Union Europe European Parliament Left Renew Europe
The European parliament in Brussels
The European parliament in Brussels. Photograph: Lili Bayer/The Guardian

Summary of the day

  • The European parliament approved the bloc’s new migration and asylum pact.

  • The pact was passed despite earlier uncertainties over whether all parts of it would receive sufficient backing.

  • The votes came after years of deadlock, debates and negotiations over the EU’s migration and asylum policies.

  • The pact’s approval was met with a mix response. It was backed by the parliament’s biggest parties, but elicited strong criticism from some political groups and NGOs.

  • Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, said “we kept out word,” calling the pact a “balance between solidarity and responsibility.”

  • The European home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, told the Guardian: “I feel proud ... considering when I took office four and a half years ago, few thought we would make it.”

  • MEP Tomas Tobé, from the centre-right European people’s party, said that “delivering on the new Migration Pact will allow us to regain control over our external borders and reduce the migration pressure on the EU,” he said.

  • Iratxe García, president of the Socialists and Democrats group, said that “thanks to the unity of the S&D Group, we finally put a real European solution in place. This moves us away from ad-hoc crises responses to a permanent and sustainable procedure that governments can rely on.”

  • Valérie Hayer, the president of the centrist Renew Europe, said “this marks an end to the unbearable failure by EU countries to find common ground on how to deal best with migration.”

  • The Greens said that “with the migration pact, the lack of solidarity towards asylum seekers & between member states will only get worse.”

  • The Left group in the European parliament said “today is a dark day for human rights, but the fight for a humane migration policy does not end here.”

  • The French National Rally’s Jordan Bardella, a critic of the migration pact, has called it “terrible” and called for a “defeat” for the project in the upcoming European parliament election.

  • Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s head of the European institutions office, said “EU institutions are now shamefully co-signing an agreement that they know will lead to greater human suffering.”

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said after the votes that the migration and asylum pact will be making a “real difference” for Europeans.

She said it would bring more secure borders, knowing who crosses the borders, while ensuring respect for fundamental rights.

The pact strikes a balance, she said.

The pact is about how best to pull our weight together, she said, noting that the EU will continue fulfilling international obligations, but must be the ones deciding who comes into the bloc – not smugglers.

The EU will continue working with global partners to address root causes of migration, von der Leyen said, adding that this work is delivering.

We delivered a European solution, but our work is not done yet, the Commission president said.

Updated

'We have acted', Metsola says

Addressing reporters after today’s votes, the European parliament president, Roberta Metsola, said “we have listened, we have acted, and we have delivered on one of the main concerns of people across Europe.”

“This is a historic day for Europe,” she said, thanking lawmakers who spent years working on the migration pact.

“EU institutions are now shamefully co-signing an agreement that they know will lead to greater human suffering,” said Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s head of the European institutions office.

“For people escaping conflict, persecution or economic insecurity these reforms will mean less protection and a greater risk of facing human rights violations across Europe - including illegal and violent pushbacks, arbitrary detention and discriminatory policing,” she said.

Geddie added:

This pact is a failure to show global leadership on refugee protection and building safe, fair and dignified pathways for people to reach Europe - whether in search of safety or of opportunity.

Updated

Here’s how the votes went:

Solidarity and relocation of migrations measure including the Asylum and Migration Management

For: 322

Against 266

Abstentions: 31

Crisis and force majeure measures

For: 301

Against: 272

Abstentions 46

Screening of third country nationals

For: 414

Against: 182

Abstentions: 29

Eurodac database

For: 404

Against: 202

Abstentions 16

Qualification for asylum standardisation

For: 398

Against: 162

Abstentions: 60

Safe and legal way to Europe measures

For: 452

Against: 154

Abstentions 14

Note the larger majority for screening and Eurodac bills, which the far right parties said previously they would support.

Updated

The European home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, is walking around the lobby outside the hemicycle with a big smile on her face. She was responsible for shepherding through the legislation over the last four years.

“I feel proud ... considering when I took office four and a half years ago, few thought we would make it,” she told the Guardian.

“This is unprecedented. It is a historic decision from the EU. Finally we will have a migration policy to allow us to manage migration in a more orderly way.”

Updated

Immediately after the vote, Donald Tusk has said he will not accept the relocation of migrants from other nations under the solidarity rules just been voted through.

However experts point out that any country can opt out of this if they pay €20,000 per migrant or provide some “measures in kind” which can include the donation of experts, technical equipment or anything else needed by states under pressure.

'Dark day for human rights,' Left group says following pact approval

“Today is a dark day for human rights, but the fight for a humane migration policy does not end here,” the Left group in the European parliament said after MEPs approved the migration and asylum pact.

“Movements, NGOs, collectives and this group will not stop demanding justice and solidarity,” the group said.

The Hungarian government has reiterated its opposition to the migration pact.

'Historic': German chancellor welcomes migration pact

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has called the migration and asylum pact a historic step.

'Only get worse': Greens criticise migration pact after vote

The Greens in the European parliament, who have opposed the package, said after today’s votes that “with the migration pact, the lack of solidarity towards asylum seekers & between member states will only get worse.”

“Real solidarity is about sharing the responsibility fairly both within the EU and international partners & standing up to our values & fighting for human rights,” the Greens said.

The French National Rally’s Jordan Bardella, a critic of the migration pact, has called it “terrible” and called for a “defeat” for the project in the upcoming European parliament election.

The message was also echoed by Marine Le Pen.

Updated

A group of 22 NGOs has issued a statement arguing that “while the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum today is likely to lead to a detrimental degradation of people’s access to protection in Europe, the new Union Resettlement Framework (URF) adopted alongside the Pact offers a glimmer of hope.”

“The URF signals the EU’s political support for global resettlement efforts and has the potential to be a step towards advancing solidarity, capacity-building and responsibility sharing. It must now be operationalised effectively to ensure that more people reach safety and find long-term solutions,” the groups, which include the International Rescue Committee and Oxfam, said.

Renew president says those opposed to pact 'surf on people’s misery'

Valérie Hayer, the president of the centrist Renew Europe, said “throughout this mandate, Renew Europe has advocated for enhancing the EU’s asylum system, today it’s a reality.”

She added:

This marks an end to the unbearable failure by EU countries to find common ground on how to deal best with migration.

The candidates standing in the EU elections who voted against this agreement are those who don’t want changes, but surf on people’s misery.

Despite the attempts of the far-right to block European solutions, the EU is demonstrating that united, we can establish this needed reform.

Centre-right celebrates migration pact approval

“We have successfully put an end to the political deadlock that has characterised migration for many years,” the centre-right European People’s party MEP Tomas Tobé said in a statement after the voting ended.

“Delivering on the new Migration Pact will allow us to regain control over our external borders and reduce the migration pressure on the EU,” he said.

The EPP has also said it “led the efforts towards a common European solution on EU Migration” and that “today, we delivered.”

Updated

'Not perfect': migration pact wins backing despite qualms

Some MEPs said they voted in favour of the migration deal, despite criticism and doubts.

'History made,' European parliament president says

Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, said “we kept out word,” calling the pact a “balance between solidarity and responsibility.”

EU migration pact adopted

The migration and asylum pact has been adopted.

Protesters disrupted the voting session.

Updated

We are now expecting votes on ten different bills that form part of the migration and asylum package – and will be updating here with the voting results:

1. Screening of third country nationals at the external borders

2. European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals

3. Common procedure for international protection in the Union

4. Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148

5. Asylum and migration management

6. Addressing situations of crisis and force majeure

7. Establishment of ‘Eurodac’

8. Union Resettlement Framework

9. Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection

10. Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection

As MEPs prepare to vote, it remains unclear if the whole migration and asylum package will pass. There’s uncertainty in the air – and the press room is packed.

Voting starts soon. Stay tuned.

Patryk Jaki, from the Polish PiS party, has told reporters that it is completely opposed to the solidarity measures which require it to pay €20,000 per migrant. It cannot accept under the proposals to relocate people from Italy and other countries that may find their systems overwhelmed by summer influxes over the Mediterranean.

“This is blood money for human traffickers who will push as many people out as possible because they know they will be accepted,” he said.

Updated

Balázs Hidvéghi, a Hungarian MEP from Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, said if one or two bills do not pass the whole package of legislation must fall.

Otherwise, he said “this could end up as an undemocratic situation”.

Tense scenes in European parliament as rumours spread that the EPP Polish MEPs will vote against rather than abstain on key parts of the migration pact.

20 minutes to go to vote.

Updated

Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is going to support two of the 10 bills on the table this evening.

Jean-Paul Garraud, president of the group in the European parliament, said they will support the measures on screening of migrants and the establishment of the Eurodac database only.

He said if any of the bills failed it would amount to a “failure of the European Commission” bid to, what he said, was take the sovereignty away from member states.

Jorge Buxadé Villalba of Vox has told reporters the Spanish far-right party will vote against all but two files - those on screening and Eurodac.

Polish MEPs from the Law and Justice (PiS) party are going to vote against all 10 bills, MEP Patryk Jaki has told the Guardian.

The far-right Identity and Democracy group has reiterated its opposition to the migration and asylum pact.

Swedish Left Party MEP Malin Björk got some applause when she accused those supporting then migration pact of taking the position of the far right.

“You are walking in their shoes, you are following them each in their narrative pitting people against each other, pitting refugees and migrants and refugees against workers,” she said.

She said opposing the deal was to support human rights.

“We defend the Europe that stands for human rights .. they [voters] are not okay with dismantling our future.”

MEP Birgit Sippel, a German social democrat, said the debate has demonstrated the compromise is not a simple one. Nevertheless, after 8 years, an agreement has been reached, and that demonstrates the determination of many participants, she said, adding that despite of justified criticism, today there is an opportunity to adopt urgently-needed measures.

Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission vice-president responsible for promoting the European way of life, said in the European parliament that the migration and asylum package on the table “is a delicate, balanced outcome.”

“This is indeed a make it or break it moment,” he said, adding:

We are about to open the door to a new house, a pact house, which will be founded on the respect of fundamental rights and the dignity and the values we represent.

Not a fortress Europe, but a well-guarded house, with more secure external borders, and clear rules on who is entitled to enter.

A house that will provide shelter to those fleeing prosecution, war and violence.

A house where all asylum applications will be processed duly and fairly.

A house that will also make sure that those who do not have legal right to be under our protection should be returned to the countries of origin with speed and dignity.

Updated

“The migration pact is a shipwreck for asylum rights,” the Green group said.

“We’ll see greater use of detention, more human rights violations & pushbacks at borders. It won’t make things better.”

The Group stressed that “we will vote against this Pact & continue to fight for human rights.”

The asylum and migration pact decision today “is an important vote that will mark a new beginning and respond to the concerns of European citizens,” the centrist Renew Europe group said. “A united and humane European response is crucial,” it added.

Cornelia Ernst, a German MEP from the Left group, called the regulations on the table a pact of shame and disgrace.

Beata Szydło, from Poland’s Law and Justice, criticised the pact, arguing that it proposes the wrong solutions.

What's in the package?

There are the 10 bills on which the European parliament is voting today.

Solidarity and responsibility

The asylum and migration management solidarity mechanism involves relocation of asylum seekers to other member states if the first country of arrival is overwhelmed as Italy was last year.

Critics say it will little to do alleviate the burden on countries like Italy because the Dublin regulation which obliges asylum applications to be processed in the first country of arrival has not been reformed sufficiently. Under a replacement rule, migrants with family in another member state can file for asylum in that country.

This is one of the bills that is likely to garner least support. Poland and Hungary have always opposed it.

Crisis times

This puts in mechanisms to avoid a sudden influx of people, or a repeat of the crisis of 2015 when more than 1m people arrived by water and land to Europe, mostly from war-torn Syria.

It will also creates mechanisms for the exploitation of people, who are placed on borders of Europe by hostile actors, such as Russia.

Screening of third country nationals

This allows for screening at the border with criminal record checks, biometric data collection along with health checks for up to 7 days. This seems safe.

Fast tracking asylum procedures

At committee stage this package of laws was confirmed by 40 votes in favour, 23 against and 4 abstentions. So it would also appear to be safe.

Eurodac database

Provides all member states to maintain and share data on all who arrive in the EU including children from six years old. Some on the left and the Greens don’t like this but likely to sail through as those on the right are in favour.

Uniform asylum procedures

This will address issues some on the right had about member states “transposing” laws on asylum rights in ineffective ways.

Reception centres

This is aimed to create minimum uniform standards at reception centres and accommodation including health care and housing. Registered asylum applicants should also be allowed to work soon to accelerate integration.

Safety and resettlement

This is to allow states to offer protection for the most vulnerable refugees living in third countries, identified in most cases by the UNHCR.

Updated

Martin Schirdewan, on behalf of the Left group, said that the pact would take away the right to protection for those who need it.

Frecnh MEP Jordan Bardella, on behalf of the far-right Identity and Democracy Group, said the group will oppose the pact.

Nicola Procaccini, on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists, said that there are a few steps in the right direction.

We have to put an end to ships leaving the coast, we have to work with countries of origin and decide who can come into Europe and who cannot, he argued.

Updated

Saskia Bricmont, on behalf of the Greens, told MEPs they are about to give in to the far-right.

This pact does not give any answers to better managing the inflows or putting an end to smuggling, she said, calling the text fortress Europe.

It’s better to have no deal than a bad deal, she argued.

Updated

Malik Azmani, on behalf of the Renew Europe group, said it’s a historic moment.

He said he understands the emotions, but stressed the need to assume responsibility.

A vote against is a vote for the status quo.

The pact is not ideal, he said, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Gabriele Bischoff, on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats group, said the pact will not solve everything but is better than the status quo.

There are points that are painful for us, she conceded. But if Europe is not capable of action on this matter, those who want to divide us will benefit, she said, asking MEPs to support the pact and see that it is seriously and responsibly implemented.

MEP Jeroen Lenaers, on behalf of the European people’s party, said the pact is an important first step.

A vote against it is a vote for maintaining the current situation, for the business model of human traffickers - a vote is favour is a vote for the status quote, he argued.

Updated

Ylva Johansson, the home affairs commissioner, told MEPs that when migration policy fails, human beings pay the price.

The pact will help us protect people, protect borders and manage migration in an orderly way, she argued.

The political agreement on the table is a true compromise, she said, noting the vote will be a close one.

History is watching, and our voters are watching, Johansson stressed.

Now is the time to take responsibility, she said. Now, the decision is in your hands, she told the legislators.

Updated

MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld said the European Commission will have to do a lot more to convince MEPs that it will enforce the new pact. She criticised a deal with Tunisia, and said the parliament needs to hold the Commission to account.

The far-right will be voting against the pact because it feeds on chaos the issue, she argued. If we reject the pact, there will be nothing in its place – there is no better alternative, the MEP argued.

We need to prove the cynics wrong, she stressed, and take responsibility.

Updated

Europe is at a turning point, said Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec, from the Socialists and Democrats group. He said that in the standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, a part of the package, the definition of family was expanded.

Beneficiaries will be treated equally, and unaccompanied minors will be entitled to more protection and safeguards, he said.

Often lost in the debate about migration in Brussels are the desperate circumstances which people leave to make a journey of hope to Europe.

More than 3,000 lost their lives in the Mediterranean last year.

Today the perils of making the crossing organised by criminal gangs has hit home once again.

Rescuers on the eastern Greek island of Chios on Wednesday searched for at least three people believed missing after a boat carrying migrants from nearby Turkey hit rocks, officials said.

Fourteen people, including eight children, were rescued by the coast guard off rugged coasts on the northeast of the island, some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from Turkey. Three men were later found ashore, Associated Press has reported.

Coast guard officials said three patrol vessels were looking for other possible survivors, while at least three people were reported missing by the rescued migrants. The boat has not been located.

Greek islands in the eastern Aegean Sea are a common entry point into the European Union for migrants using Turkey-based smuggling networks in waters patrolled by the EU border protection agency Frontex.

Malin Björk from the Swedish Left Party said the vote will not resolve problems, and that the Left group will not be supporting it.

There is no real solidarity, and there will be more of what is not working, she said. There will be detention, dehumanisation, violence, humiliation, she added.

We will see more cooperation with despots, the MEP warned.

One of the most important problems with the pact is that the individual right to asylum is being undermined, she argued.

Updated

Poland has not supported the migration pact for the last year and along with Hungary tried to block it at European leaders level.

The change in government after the election of Donald Tusk has not changed their position as he walks the fine political line between supporting his colleagues in the centre-right European People’s party group who are backing the deal and heading off opposition to migration in his base back home.

All eyes will be on the Polish EPP votes this afternoon. Many expect them to abstain rather than a vote against.

Juan Fernando López Aguilar, a socialist MEP from Spain, said that in the past a country would have a significant inflow of irregular migrants but with the new pact we have European solidarity, in a coordinated European approach.

We are going to have European legislation that is clear, with common guarantees, with protection of those who are more vulnerable – women, children unaccompanied minors.

It wasn’t easy, it was very thorny, he said. In every negotiations there are some concessions, but legal certainty is important, he stressed.

In the run-up to the election, we can say we did everything we could, he said.

Updated

Swedish MEP Tomas Tobé said the European parliament has an opportunity to deliver for citizens. The centre-right European people’s party will be supporting the migration and asylum pact, he said, stressing the need to strengthen Europe’s common borders.

The pact acknowldges the need to cooperate with third countries to better manage migration in the future, he said.

It’s about building trust, he said, conceding that the negotiations were long and hard. He thanked the Socialists and Democrats group, as well as Renew Europe and some parts of the European Conservatives and Reformists.

He urged the Greens and the Left group to vote in favour.

Updated

The Left group in the European parliament has said the pact of migration and asylum “represents a shameful capitulation to xenophobic narratives and a betrayal of Europe’s professed values.”

“Rather than heralding a new era of compassion and solidarity, it perpetuates a system of exclusion and oppression, condemning countless individuals to lives of uncertainty and fear,” it said.

Speaking at the European parliament, French MEP Fabienne Keller from the centrist Renew Europe group said the migration and asylum pact will allow the EU to be better equipped to respond to challenges.

The pact will not solve all problems, but constitutes a huge step forward toward control and humane management of migration, she said, stressing that it’s not the end of the journey and great efforts will be needed to ensure new rules are respected.

She called on centrist and pro-European parties to support the pact.

Updated

Members of the European parliament are now debating the migration and asylum package.

The centre-right European People’s party said it “wants to prevent irregular EU migration and unauthorised movements between EU countries and combat migrant smuggling.”

“The Pact on Asylum and Migration marks significant progress towards overcoming these challenges,” the EPP said.

The group has also said that “the Pact aims to stop attempts of certain states and non-state actors who use migrants for political purposes.”

European parliament to vote on key migration package

After eight years of stalemate, more deadlocks and compromises., the rise of the far right across Europe has focused the minds of European leaders and compelled them to finally agree, by majority vote, to reform incoherent migration laws across the bloc.

Yet it still hangs in the balance with more than 700 MEPs being asked to vote 10 different bills through.

If passed it will mean fast-tracking of asylum applications and forced returns within as few as 12 weeks, an improvement in what several MEPs have said are dreadful standards in reception centres and alleviate the burden felt by countries like Greece and Italy which in the last year has shouldered responsibility for the majority of people being smuggled across the Mediterranean.

Ylva Johansson, the European commissioner for home affairs, who shepherded the legislative text through its torturous journey since 2016 is convinced it will pass. She admits however that if it does not the laws are in big trouble and it is unlikely that there will be appetite to revisit the matter in the next parliamentary mandate.

Last night it looked as if the Greens (72 of 705 seats), some socialists and some members of the centre right grouping in the European People’s Party in both Poland and France would be voting against some of the files.

Politicians in the far right groups including Alternative for Germany, Vox and National Rally have already been “discounted”.

The debate starts around 2pm Brussels time with votes at 5pm.

Welcome to the blog

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Europe blog, coming to you today from the European parliament in Brussels.

Members of the parliament will soon be debating and voting on a migration package.

Stay tuned and send thoughts to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

The European parliament in Brussels
The European parliament in Brussels ahead of today’s migration debate and vote Photograph: Lili Bayer/The Guardian
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