On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote to support the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact, along with other laws that reform the Union’s asylum system, in the final step before the new rules can be put into effect, writes Fabienne Keller

The EU has been looking to reform and enhance its migration and asylum procedures since the 2015 crisis. That we are on the brink of achieving this is a historic moment, showing that the EU can end these ad-hoc solutions.

Finally, 27 countries have come together to improve the management of irregular migration.

For years, this almost looked impossible, with the far-right populists working against European solutions and the far-left dreaming about fantasy solutions.

Despite these political challenges in December, after lengthy negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council, an agreement finally emerged from the meeting room, where we hammered out the last details.

Though this pact may not solve all of the Union’s migration issues overnight, it is an unprecedented political achievement that significantly improves the current system.

As we move towards the implementation phase, it is in the common interest of EU governments to ensure that the laws are implemented under the promise of a fairer and more consistent system.

Throughout the current mandate, my political group in the Parliament – Renew Europe – highlighted the need to finalise and implement this agreement.

We played the king-maker role by initiating the ‘Roadmap’, which allowed us to establish a timetable to reach the finishing line before the European elections.

For too long, member states failed to find common ground on migration, leading to fatal disasters.

This undermined European unity, with countries on the front line of the migration crisis, such as Greece and Italy, bearing the largest burden.

Lives have tragically been lost when migrants embark on dangerous routes trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach our shores – last year alone, over 2,700 have died.

But this has not stopped people from trying to get into Europe or being the victims of human trafficking networks that falsely promise a new life in Europe.

Around 380,000 migrants arrived in 2023 without legal authorisation, marking this highest number since 2016 and indicating a consistent upward trend over the past years.

Meanwhile, populists have used migration to consistently fan the flames of racism and spread fear without offering tangible solutions.

A clear majority of far-right parties in the Parliament voted against key legislations of the agreement while – ironically enough – constantly whining about the EU’s inability to deal with migration.

This is not the way forward. The reality is that migration is as old as humanity and occurs in all world regions.

We need to find realistic, humane, and efficient ways to improve the management of migration flows and the processing of asylum seekers.

That is precisely what this reform intends to do.

The new laws represent an opportunity for a constructive way forward, creating more order and solidarity.

The Asylum Procedure Regulation, which I was responsible for negotiating on behalf of the Parliament, introduces a new unified, efficient, and fair process for member states to follow when people seek protection, establishing EU protections for asylum seekers’ rights.

From now on, all asylum seekers will be treated equally in the 27 Member States.

The mandatory border procedure will swiftly evaluate whether asylum applications at our borders are with merit or inadmissible, helping create effective returns for those without the right to stay.

The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation outlines the criteria for determining which member states are responsible for processing an application.

The new solidarity mechanism will fix the imbalance where a few countries handle most applications by combining mandatory solidarity to support overwhelmed member states.

Offering flexibility in how they choose to deal with this challenge, whether by relocation, financial contributions, or measures such as capacity building or deployment of personnel.

The Screening Regulation facilitates quick identification of the correct procedure.

Whether returning individuals to their country of origin or initiating a quick and efficient asylum process when someone enters the EU without meeting the required entry conditions.

Their claims must be dealt with within 12 weeks, and if rejected, they should be returned to their home countries within three months.

Finally, a framework for member states to address migration crises is established, allowing countries to benefit from stronger EU solidarity and to adjust certain rules, such as those related to application registration or border procedures, under extraordinary pressure.

Now, our eyes will be on implementing and enforcing the new agreement.

The Commission must actively scrutinise how all the laws are implemented and take action where the rules are not respected or rights upheld, especially regarding minors.

While safeguards are included in the legislation, we will be extremely vigilant about how children will be treated and if their rights are respected at the borders.

In the end, the reform’s true success depends on how member states implement it. Let us show our citizens we can do it.