Posted by European parliament to vote on key migration package
Lisa O’Carroll
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.
Key events
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.
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.
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.
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
Lisa O’Carroll
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.