EU reaches deal on migration and asylum pact – live

New rules will ‘lighten load on those member states where most migrants arrive’, Council of EU says

Speaking at a press conference this morning, European parliament president Roberta Metsola said:

Today is truly a historic day. I am surrounded by colleagues who have not slept for days and nights.

In a very, I would say, also emotional moment – I start from a personal angle.

We can manage to showcase this unprecedented reform before next year’s elections.

It is not a perfect package on the table, and it does not look at the solutions to all complex issues, but what we do have on the table is far better for all of us than we have had previously.

We can demonstrate that Europe has the solutions and that Europe can deliver.

Instead of seeking humane and practical solutions to manage migration in an orderly and safe way, EU Member States have been pursuing dangerous policies that are turning the Mediterranean into a graveyard. Unfortunately the outcome of these negotiations will only solidify this approach.

What we needed with this Pact was a full overhaul of the rules and mandatory relocation. Despite a new binding solidarity mechanism in EU law, its shortcomings are stark - solidarity now means border surveillance within the EU, relocation is not prioritised and there are no specific solidarity procedures for search and rescue disembarkation.

Unfortunately, the systematic and prolonged detention of people in unsanitary and unsafe conditions at the EU’s borders will continue. The Greens/EFA Group will never accept the lowering of standards and legal safeguards in asylum procedures.