EU Endorses New Approach to Manage Asylum & Migration Flows Into Bloc
The Civil Liberties Committee has given the first green light to the reform of European Union asylum and migration management.
The new approach to manage asylum and migration flows into the bloc was approved on March 28, and the new rules aim to tackle crises that the EU has been dealing with, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The position on the proposed update of the asylum and migration management regulation was approved by the Members of Parliament (MEPs) with 47 votes in favour, 17 votes against, and one abstention.
According to the European Parliament, the adopted text amends rules to determine the Member States responsible for examining an application filed for international protection, particularly regarding the introduction of family or educational links to a certain EU country.
Now that reforms have been approved, the Member States and the EU will work together to manage asylum as well as migration in line with EU and international law.
There will also be cooperation with countries that are not part of the EU on a number of elements, from the readmission of third-country nationals to legal migration.
In addition to the above-mentioned, it has been pointed out that the changes will also permit the EU countries that are under pressure due to a high number of migrants and asylum-seekers arrivals to benefit from voluntary solidarity contributions from the other Member States in the form of capacity-building measures or relocations.
MEPs also adopted a mandate regarding new rules in case of crisis, with 46 votes in favour, 12 votes against, and seven abstentions.
The EU Parliament explains that the new rules on which a mandate has been adopted would apply temporarily when an EU country deals with sudden arrivals of third-country nationals. The same noted that these rules would ensure that responsibility is shared fairly between the EU countries.
Commenting on the decision to reform EU asylum and migration management, Tomas Tobé, who serves as a Member of the Parliament, said after the vote that the main purpose of this regulation is to increase mutual trust between the EU countries and encourage fair responsibility-sharing.
“Following years of political deadlock in the field of asylum and migration, the European Parliament has shown it is possible to find common ground. This is an important step forward to a common European asylum and migration policy that is well functioning and long-term,” Tobé added.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar also commented on the matter. He said that thanks to the crisis regulation, the EU will be able to address mass arrivals of third-country nationals and respond to similar situations.
