EU lawmakers approve an overhaul of migration law, hoping to deprive the far right of votes
Lawmakers have approved a major revamp of the European Union’s migration regulations
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers approved Wednesday a major revamp of the bloc’s migration laws, hoping to end years of division over how to manage the entry of thousands of people without authorization and deprive the far right of a vote-winning campaign issue ahead of June elections.
In a series of 10 votes, members of the European Parliament endorsed the regulations and policies that make up the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The reforms address the thorny issue of who should take responsibility for migrants when they arrive and whether other EU countries should be obliged to help.
The proceedings were briefly interrupted by a small but noisy group of demonstrators in the public gallery who wore shirts marked “this pact kills” and shouted “vote no!”
The 27 EU member countries must now endorse the reform package, possibly in a vote in late April, before it can take effect.
