The European Parliament give its final green light to the reform of the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact. The new rules will ensure responsibility sharing among member states in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. This news item includes extracts from debate, from the final votes, and from press point with the EU Council Presidency, and the Presidents of the European Parliament and Commission.

Brussels

press point

debate

plenary session

vote

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

SIPPEL, Birgit (S&D, DE)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

BJÖRK, Malin (The Left, SE)

DE CROO, Alexander (BE)

KELLER, Fabienne (Renew, FR)

TOBÉ, Tomas (EPP, SE)

BUXADÉ VILLALBA, Jorge (ECR, ES)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

JOHANSSON, Ylva (SE, EC)

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

Migration and Asylum package: extracts from the debate, from the votes and from the press point

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Now we finally have on the table a comprehensive European approach on migration, with uniform EU rules on asylum procedures, screening at the border, quicker protection for those likely to be granted asylum, and quicker returns for those who don't have the right to stay. New safeguards to protect vulnerable people, especially minors and families with children. Clear rules to prevent overcrowded reception centres. New, robust and independent monitoring mechanism to uphold rights at the border and for the first time ever, mandatory solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tomas TOB&Eacute; (EPP, SE), Rapporteur for the Asylum and migration management regulation, We need to strengthen our common border, because only so can we also ensure that we move towards a policy when we can give protection to those in need and not to irregular migrants. We also, in the migration pact, finally acknowledge that we need to cooperate also with third countries if we want to manage migration in a better way in the future. And finally, and perhaps even more important, in the migration pact we make it clear that we need to cooperate better within the Union.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE), Rapporteur for the Screening regulation, Today we're not voting on a perfect package of legislation. It's not even a good a very good, package. And I'm not going to, be reticent with my criticise. We have to. And this includes the decisions about, the indicating that third countries are safe. This is these are things that we could, particularly criticise in these terms. Also in my report for screening, we had to make concessions, for example, screening of persons who are already on the territory of the member state. The really quite a lot of doubts as whether the existing legal basis actually allows such screening.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fabienne KELLER (RE, FR), rapporteur for the Asylum procedure regulation,This pact is a consistent whole, which takes finally into consideration the challenges we face for migration. Therefore, priorities here, first of all, to assure strategic steerage in policies between the 27 member states on asylum and migration, with a clear role for the Commission to coordinate and follow up. Secondly, a solidarity mechanism that is unprecedented at European level to help Member States if they end up under pressure or migratory crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Jorge BUXAD&Eacute; VILLALBA (ECR, ES), Rapporteur for Eurodac, We were able to carry out this revision of Eurodac. We have an amplified, broadened database to identify illegal immigrants and any asylum seekers who try to come to the European territory without declaring their presence on our territory. Now, this is a database that will have not only asylum requests, but those individuals who are asylum to put an end to the frauds.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Malin BJ&Ouml;RK (The Left, SE), Rapporteur for the Union resettlement framework, The vote that will take place later, will not resolve the problems that it was meant to resolve. This won't be an automatic redistribution of those seeking protection. The first country of arrival will still be responsible. There's no real solidarity built in here. Nothing is being done. Absolutely nothing to stop the death in the Mediterranean. On the contrary, the borders which become more and more closed off will see more brutality. And so people have to take worse risks and take more dangerous routes.

Vote on Asylum procedure regulation: 301 in favour, 269 against, 51 abstained (3 shots)

Vote on Asylum and migration management regulation: 322 in favour, 266 against, 31 abstained (3 shots)

Vote on Reception conditions directive: 398 in favour, 162 against, 60 abstained (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This new asylum and migration pact has ushered in new laws that had been more than ten years in the making. Today, we have voted in favour of a package that provides for a robust legislative framework that is the same in all Member States, that puts humanity first, that understands all the different, difficult aspects of this issue, that secures Europe's external borders, that provides clarity on applicable rules, that ensures the right balance between solidarity and responsibility in full respect of fundamental rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, This is what the pact on Migration and Asylum delivers. It will be making a real difference for all Europeans. First, more secure European borders, knowing exactly who crosses our borders by registering and screening everyone while ensuring the protection of the fundamental rights through an independent monitoring.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister, We have to get to work to put these agreements into actions and that means three main elements to us. First of all, better protect our borders to prevent illegal border crossings. Secondly, better spread the migration burden to all Member States. And third, I would say above all, make sure that Europe is only reached by asylum seekers who are entitled to have protection.