European Union nations recently approved sweeping reforms to the bloc’s asylum system as campaigning for the Europe-wide elections intensifies. The EU government ministers passed 10 legislative parts of The New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which provides guidelines for member countries to handle unauthorized individuals trying to enter, from screening to deporting them if necessary. While Hungary and Poland voted against the package, they were unable to block it from being endorsed.
Many mainstream political parties view this pact as a solution to the issues that have divided member nations since the 2015 migrant crisis. However, the vast reform package will not take effect until 2026, offering no immediate resolution to the ongoing political crisis within the EU over migrant responsibilities and obligations. Critics of the pact argue that it will allow nations to detain migrants at borders and infringe on their right to claim asylum, leading to more surreptitious agreements with poorer countries to deter migrants from seeking refuge in Europe.
Europe’s asylum laws have not been updated for approximately two decades, leading to the 2015 breakdown of the system as over 1 million migrants entered Europe. The Schengen Area, which allows for ID-check-free travel across borders for 27 countries, has added to the complexities of handling migrants and asylum claims. The new pact applies to an estimated 300,000 unauthorized migrants annually who are caught crossing external EU borders without permission, such as those reaching Greece, Italy, or Spain by boat.
The asylum procedure outlined in the pact involves screening individuals at or near the border to determine their identity, potential threats, and eligibility for international protection. Applicants are required to apply for asylum in the EU nation they first enter and may be relocated based on family or cultural ties to another country. Those rejected will receive a deportation order, which aims to be issued automatically to speed up the process. The border and coast guard agency would assist in coordinating joint deportation flights, although past efforts have seen limited success.
Responsibilities versus obligations remain a contentious issue within the EU, as countries are obligated to assist partners under migratory pressure with flexible forms of support. However, the challenge ahead lies in implementing and enforcing these new rules, as well as addressing potential backlash from countries like Hungary, which strongly oppose the reforms. The European Commission is set to present a Common Implementation Plan by June to guide the pact’s execution over the next two years, with specific targets for the EU and member nations to meet.
