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European Parliament approves 'historic' Pact on Migration and Asylum
Once adopted by the Council, the regulation will apply to international protection applications registered two years after its entry into force
10 April 2024, 7:24pm
Matthew Vella / Matthew Farrugia
Matthew Vella / Matthew Farrugia
2 min read
The pact establishes a solidarity pool to which all EU countries must contribute annually, either through relocations or financial contributions
The European Parliament has voted in favour of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The pact aims to provide assistance to EU countries facing migratory pressure by implementing measures such as relocating asylum applicants or beneficiaries of international protection, financial contributions, and offering operational and technical support.
Additionally, updates to the criteria determining the responsibility of member states in examining international protection applications, known as the Dublin rules, were also amended.
The pact establishes a solidarity pool to which all EU countries must contribute annually, either through relocations or financial contributions. Contributions are calculated based on population size and GDP, with member states under migratory pressure eligible to request deductions from their solidarity contributions.
The pact sets minimum thresholds for relocations at 30,000 applicants and financial contributions at €600 million. If relocations are insufficient, member states may be asked to assume responsibility for examining applications for international protection. Notably, applicants will not have the right to choose which member state examines their application or where they are relocated.
Once adopted by the Council, the regulation will apply to international protection applications registered two years after its entry into force.
On X, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the pact as a robust legislative framework meant to address migration and asylum within the bloc.
History made.
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) April 10, 2024
We have delivered a robust legislative framework on how to deal with migration and asylum in the EU.
It has been more than ten years in the making. But we kept our word.
A balance between solidarity and responsibility.
This is the European way. pic.twitter.com/OW24Y8cv1k
"Nothing historic on what has been achieved"
Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer, who was not in Brussels for the vote due to parliamentary work in Oslo, said he would have voted against the migration pact.
“As I said from the day the Council moved after eight years on discussions on the migration pact, there is nothing historic on what has been agreed. This agreed text does not respect human rights; it does not introduce mandatory solidarity with the member states that face the biggest number of irregular migrant arrivals; children can continue being detained upon arrival in what is equivalent to prison; and not all countries deemed as ‘safe’ are safe for everyone.”
Some French and Italian lawmakers from the Socialists (S&D) and the EPP, as well as some in the nationalist conservative ECR voted against it.
The ECR’s rapporteur Jorge Buxadé said the pact was missing measures on migrant returns.
NGOs warned against most of the pact’s measures, which they said “will mirror the failed approaches of the past and worsen their consequences,” 50 of them wrote in an open letter in December.
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
Matthew Farrugia is a staff reporter at MaltaToday
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