Migration and Asylum Pact Deal delivers a common and sustainable European migration policy

Renew Europe welcomes the inter-institutional agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on all the key regulations of the Migration and Asylum Pact.

This historic breakthrough is a victory for Renew Europe and pro-European, centrist political forces and brings the EU one step closer to finally implementing a reform that can stand the test of time. Renew Europe has campaigned for truly European solutions to migration related challenges and we stand on the brink of delivery. While the far-right and far-left have consistently voted against the pact and only delivered fantasy and populist solutions, Europe is now showing that united, we can in an orderly and dignified way put in place a common European, sustainable asylum and migration pact based on responsibility and solidarity.

Fabienne Keller (L'Europe Ensemble, France), the European Parliament's rapporteur of the Asylum Procedures regulation and shadow rapporteur on the Asylum and Migration Management regulation, said:

”Today Europe has delivered. We are bringing forward a strong common response to migratory challenges, and putting an end to ad-hoc solutions. This Pact will address today’s shortcomings, such as better management of irregular migration, more efficient asylum procedures, greater solidarity between Member States under migratory pressure and more effective returns for those not eligible to stay. We have proven the extremists on the left and right wrong. Finally, we will have a strong common asylum system based on responsibility and solidarity.”

Malik Azmani (VVD, Netherlands), 1st Vice President of Renew Europe and the group's shadow rapporteur on the Crisis & Force Majeure Regulation, added:

"With this historic agreement, the EU is finally making important steps towards a European system to manage migration. Since the start of this mandate, our political group has been at the forefront to achieve results on this important topic for EU citizens. With the Pact, the EU finally delivers on a common European approach to better regulate migration by ensuring a fair sharing of responsibility and solidarity.”

Jan-Christoph Oetjen (FDP, Germany), Renew Europe's shadow rapporteur on the Screening regulation, said:

"We have reached a positive agreement on the screening regulation. The screening must be completed in a maximum of seven days. An extension will not be possible. This guarantees a quick collection of information and we put in place harmonised rules for those arriving. We were thus able to incorporate the core demands of Renew Europe into the migration pact. The screening regulation is the basis of the new border procedure which will significantly reduce the number of irregular arrivals to Europe."

Hilde Vautmans (Open Vld, Belgium), Renew Europe's shadow rapporteur on the Eurdac regulation, said:

“I am pleased with today’s political deal on Eurodac. Eurodac will play a key role in supporting the overall Asylum and Migration pact. We will uphold fundamental rights and on the initiative of Renew Europe, we have secured strong additional safeguards for children. I am particularly pleased that Eurodac will assist with the protection of child victims of human trafficking and the identification and protection of missing children.