European Union Adopts Migration and Asylum Reforms Despite Resistance from Hungary and Others

The new European migration and asylum pact has been ratified despite opposition from Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, with the Czech Republic, Malta, and Austria abstaining during the final vote on Tuesday. However, their dissent did not thwart the approval of the legislative package, as it garnered the necessary qualified majority from member states.

Among the 20 countries voting in favor of the pact was Bulgaria, endorsing the set of regulations aimed at enhancing the organized management of migrant arrivals and establishing uniform procedures for reception, return, and equitable distribution of migrants across European nations.

The Council has adopted ten legislative pieces encompassing comprehensive reforms to the European asylum and migration management framework, slated to come into effect by 2026.

A key provision entails the compulsory allocation of up to 30,000 migrants annually among EU member states to alleviate the burden on border states. Standardized asylum application procedures will differentiate between applicants based on their likelihood of being granted protection, with swift processing aimed at identifying and returning those ineligible to stay.

Countries unwilling or unable to accept migrants may opt to contribute financially to their upkeep or deploy border guards to assist with border security or establish reception centers.

A significant aspect of the reform is the introduction of mandatory border procedures for certain categories of asylum seekers, primarily those from countries with low asylum recognition rates. This border procedure aims to promptly assess the admissibility of asylum applications at the EU's external borders, preventing entry for individuals awaiting processing.

Enhanced identity,...