After years of bickering, EU claims breakthrough in migration talks

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After several years of constant disagreements, countries within the European Union (EU) have made substantial progress in discussions surrounding migration, achieving consensus on a plan to distribute responsibilities for unauthorized migrants entering Europe, the cause of one of the longest-lasting political issues in the bloc, according to officials late on Thursday.

The culmination of a lengthy negotiation process in Luxembourg saw EU interior ministers ratify a deal that balances the duties of countries which receive the majority of migrants to accommodate and process them, against the necessity for fellow members to extend support, either financially or by accepting refugees.

This agreement will shape the negotiation standpoint of the 27 EU countries in discussions with the European Parliament, which upholds a contrasting perspective of solidarity. It advocates for nations to formulate comprehensive “annual migrant support plans” aimed at assisting frontline states and mandating the transfer of refugees.

However, due to the variation in stances, there is a chance that the agreement may dissolve during these discussions.

Maria Malmer Stenergard, the Migration Minister for Sweden, which currently presides over the EU’s rotating presidency and mediated the agreement, labeled the deal as “a historical advancement and a remarkable success.” However, she voiced surprise at the resolution of long-standing differences.

“Frankly, I didn’t foresee that I would be announcing this, but here we are,” she conveyed to reporters. The agreement’s provisions constitute “the principal pillars of the reform of the EU asylum system and are crucial for maintaining a balance between responsibility and solidarity,” she explained.

Europe’s asylum system collapsed eight years ago when a massive influx of over a million individuals, primarily escaping the Syrian conflict, overwhelmed the welcoming facilities in Greece and Italy. This provoked one of the largest political disturbances within the EU.

The subsequent years have seen ongoing quarrels among the 27 EU nations over which countries should assume responsibility for unauthorized arrivals and whether fellow members should be compelled to assist them.

Although not all nations ratified the plan on Thursday, only a “qualified majority” of support was necessary – about two-thirds of the member countries, which represent roughly two-thirds of the total EU population of approximately 450 million people.

The Czech Republic requested exclusion from the migrant “solidarity clause” due to the already significant number of refugees it is hosting from Ukraine. Malta chose to abstain, but the oppositions of Italy and Greece, the countries most impacted previously, were assuaged in a final round of discussions.

Ylva Johansson, the Home Affairs Commissioner, expressed optimism about the forthcoming negotiations with parliament, despite the latter’s insistence on mandatory relocation.

“We still have a few stages to navigate until we have completely finalized this, but it’s clear that we have made significant strides in terms of building trust,” she conveyed to reporters.

Stenergard announced that Sweden’s proposal, suggesting that countries not wishing to accept migrants could provide financial contributions instead, was accepted. This would equate to 20,000 euros ($21,400) per migrant.

EU lawmakers have cautioned that this is the last opportunity to resolve the predicament before EU-wide elections in a year, when migration is likely to once again dominate the agenda. Pressure is expected to increase as next June’s elections approach.

“If we let this opportunity to get it right pass us by, I don’t think we will get another,” declared Juan Fernando López Aguilar, a Spanish Socialist lawmaker and a key figure in migration policy, back in April. “The message would essentially be: ‘Hey, listen, it’s not going to happen. Not this time. Never.’

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about EU Migration Talks Breakthrough

More about EU Migration Talks Breakthrough

• European Union Official Website
• Overview of the EU Asylum Policy
• Information about the EU’s Rotating Presidency
• Details about Migration and Asylum in the EU
• Current EU Migration News Coverage by AP