The European Union definitively adopts the pact on migration and asylum

The end of negotiations which lasted more than three years. On Tuesday, May 14, the countries of the European Union gave their final green light to the pact on migration and asylum, a vast reform which toughens immigration control in Europe.

Less than a month before the European elections for which polls predict a surge by anti-immigration parties, this set of around ten pieces of legislation was formally adopted by the Council of the EU, representing the member states. Parliament gave its approval in April. Hungary and Poland voted against all the texts, which were adopted by qualified majority (55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU population). Austria and Slovakia voted against some.

The reform sets up a procedure for “screening” migrants at EU borders to identify them and distinguish more quickly those who have a chance of obtaining asylum from those who are likely to be returned to their country of origin. origin. It also establishes a solidarity mechanism between the 27 countries in the care of asylum seekers.

Human rights organizations, as well as left-wing and environmentalist elected officials, have continued to denounce this pact, criticizing the possibility of detaining families with children and a “criminalization” exiles. Conversely, the far right denounced the “weakness” of reform.