Huge step towards new EU migration policy

With the votes of the EPP Group, the European Parliament will today approve its position on a new responsible and functioning European migration policy.

The so-called ‘Migration Pact’ will provide a constructive and sustainable European-wide framework to the migration challenge. It will help prevent irregular migration and unauthorised movements between EU countries. The new rules will also combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking and ensure solidarity between EU countries through the solidarity mechanism.

"The new legal framework achieves a fair balance between solidarity and responsibility. The Migration Pact as a whole will allow us to regain control over external borders, provide swift and fair procedures to quickly distinguish between refugees and economic migrants, strengthen cooperation with third countries to prevent irregular departures, support those in need of international protection and return those with no right to stay in the EU", said Tomas Tobé MEP, European Parliament lead negotiator on the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management.

"The European Parliament is also abandoning mandatory relocations of asylum seekers as the guiding principle of migration policy. Instead, a permanent solidarity mechanism will provide true solidarity and allow flexible and voluntary contributions. It is an important shift that increases the possibilities for the EU to be able to unite in a constructive way", Tobé said.

"The migration crisis is a common European challenge that we must shoulder together responsibly. We need long-term migration management instead of a permanent spiral of indignation. Today's vote is a huge step in that direction. I trust that the Member States now move forward without delay in order for negotiations to begin this summer, so that these new rules can be implemented as soon as possible", Jeroen Lenaers MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on Home Affairs, concluded.