By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BRUSSELS (Worthy News) – After years of debate, the European Union is introducing new migration and asylum rules that include tougher borders and shared responsibility among the bloc’s 27 members amid concerns about a massive influx of millions of migrants from mainly Muslim nations in recent years.
In addition, millions of refugees have arrived from war-torn Ukraine since February 2022.
On Tuesday, EU economy ministers gave the final green light to overhaul the bloc’s migration and asylum policies.
The final approval comes shortly before the European Parliament election, with migration seen as a significant topic.
The pact, comprised of 10 pieces of legislation, was backed by most of the bloc’s countries despite opposition from Hungary and Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reiterated his opposition to the European Union’s migration policies, which he claimed are aligned with U.S. billionaire George Soros’s plan to use his money to manage rather than stop migration. “No one can dictate to Hungarians with whom they can live,” Orbán said last month.
NEW RULES
Yet, despite his opposition, the new rules come into effect in 2026.
“These new rules will make the European asylum system more effective and increase solidarity between member states,” added Belgian Asylum and Migration Minister Nicole de Moor, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency before Hungary takes over on July 1.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the reform still helps people fleeing persecution, including Christians, while making “clear that those who do not need this protection cannot come to Germany or must leave Germany much more quickly.”
Opponents of the pact have said it aims at keeping people out and infringes on their right to claim asylum.
It has also raised fears that the EU would have to make it more controversial with autocratic countries that people leave or cross to get to Europe.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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