EU-migration

The European Parliament and member states have agreed on a new asylum and migration pact for the EU,  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a press release. “This Pact on Migration and Asylum will ensure that there is an effective European response to this European challenge. This means that Europeans decide who comes to the EU and who can stay, not the people smugglers. This means protecting those who need it,” von der Leyen said. The provisional agreement now needs to be finally approved by both the European Parliament and governments before it can enter into force. But this is expected to be done on the basis of the agreement.
    “It has taken a long time to reach the goal. But we have succeeded. The EU has finally found a clear policy on migration,” said European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas on X. The agreement contains a number of additions and tightening of existing rules to reduce migration to the EU. Among other things, the EU will implement concrete action plans to combat illegal migration via the Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Atlantic. At the same time, the hope is to ensure the effective return of migrants who do not have the right to stay in the EU. /ritzau/