The European Union (EU) has given its final approval to a historic reform of its migration and asylum policies, ending nearly a decade of debate, just a month before the European elections expected to see a rise in far-right parties.
With the massive legislative package crossing the finish line, some countries are striving to tighten the EU bloc’s policies further and redirect more migrants to third countries to process their claims.
Hungary and Poland voted against all the legislation, which was approved by a qualified majority (55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU’s population), while Austria and Slovakia voted against some of the laws.
These migration and asylum laws are the result of years of tough negotiations, triggered by the massive influx of irregular migrants from Syria and Afghanistan to Europe in 2015.
The new laws have drawn criticism from migrant rights associations and some nationalist governments, which deemed them “weak”.
This package tightens measures at the EU’s borders and compels member states to share responsibility for incoming migrants.
EU ministers gathered in Brussels are expected to give their final approval to the reforms endorsed by the European Parliament last month.
Supporters of the package have made concerted efforts to push for its approval before the EU elections in June, fearing that a more right-leaning Parliament could bury the reform package.
The measures are expected to come into effect in 2026 after the European Commission determines how to implement them.
