European Parliament approves new migration and asylum policy

The European Parliament has recently passed ten legislative acts aimed at reforming the European Union’s migration and asylum policy, in line with agreements reached by member states in December 2023. These changes represent a significant step towards streamlining the management of migrant flows and strengthening the European asylum system.

Here are some of the key proposed modifications:

1. Asylum requests will be processed faster, even at the Union’s borders, and return procedures will be more efficient.
2. Improved identification upon arrival; mandatory security, vulnerability, and medical checks for individuals entering the EU irregularly.
3. Member states can choose to take responsibility for asylum seekers, provide financial support, or offer operational assistance.
4. Enhanced crisis response and a new voluntary mechanism for relocating refugees from third countries.
5. Stronger measures for crisis management in situations of sudden influxes of migrants.
6. Pre-screening procedures for third-country nationals at EU borders reduced to a maximum of seven days.
7. Establishment of a new common procedure for granting and withdrawing international protection within the EU.
8. Revised Eurodac database recording biometric data of irregular arrivals for enhanced security measures.
9. Uniform standards for qualifying for international protection across all member states.
10. Setting equivalent reception standards for asylum seekers regarding living conditions, education, and healthcare.
11. Safe and legal entry framework into Europe through a new legislative framework for relocation and humanitarian admission.

Once the Council approves the package, the laws will be offical after their publication into the Official Journal. The regulations are expected to be applied in two years thereafter and member states will have two years to update their national laws with the new changes.