MEPs approved the European Asylum and Migration Pact this Wednesday, April 10, 2024. This reform of the European Union’s migration policy was presented to the European Parliament.
The European Parliament voted in favor of ten texts forming this “Pact on Migration and Asylum”, during a plenary session in Brussels, briefly interrupted by protests from activists hostile to this reform.
The text had the support of the Renew Europe group, the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) and the Social Democrats (S&D). The text arouses opposition from a large part of the extreme right, as well as the Greens, the radical left and certain socialists, as recalled AFP.
“I expect MEPs to approve it, but you never know”declared Internal Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Tuesday, saying she “proud” of this reform.
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A text contested by many NGOs
The overhaul of the rules is based on a Commission proposal presented in September 2020 after the failure of a previous attempt at reform, in the wake of the 2015-2016 refugee crisis.
This Pact on Migration and Asylum provides in particular for stricter controls on arrivals at external borders and a solidarity mechanism towards countries subject to migratory pressure. 161 NGOs called on MEPs on Tuesday to reject the reform which they denounce “ the punitive approach » towards the exiles.
The reform notably sets up compulsory screening of migrants arriving at EU borders. A procedure at the border is planned for those who are statistically the least likely to obtain asylum: they will be held in centers while their file is examined, with the aim of being able to expel rejected people more easily.
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“Nausea”, “major breakthrough”…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed “a huge step for Europe”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned a “not essential history” allowing “solidarity between European states”. Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis applauded a “historic day ”.
Immediately after the vote, MEP and head of the LFI list Manon Aubry expressed her ” nausea “ writing on X (ex-Twitter): “the Europe of barbed wire rather than the Europe of solidarity. » “The agreement embodies the worst ideas of the extreme right and is a real step backwards in terms of international law,” added Marie Toussaint, Green MEP and head of the Green list in the European elections.
“The European Parliament has just adopted all the texts of the Asylum and Migration Pact”welcomed the official account of the Renaissance campaign, evoking “a major breakthrough that we have been fighting for since 2019”. According to Fabienne Keller, Renaissance MP, this vote “ allows the European Union to move away from the status quo ».
On the RN side, Jean-Paul Garraud, president of the RN delegation to the European Parliament, regretted “a serious attack on our sovereignty and a future worsening of migratory flooding”. Jordan Bardella deplored the adoption of “terrible European Migration Pact, which imposes the distribution of migrants in our municipalities under penalty of financial sanctions”.
After this vote, the Pact will still have to be formally approved by the member states. The European Commission will present an implementation plan by June. Because many questions are left unanswered, giving rise to uncertainties about the functioning of the system.