EU members revolt against migration pact as Poland and Hungary REJECT Brussels diktat

EU members revolt against migration pact as Poland and Hungary REJECT Brussels diktat

WATCH NOW: Poland and Hungary have dealt Brussels a major blow over the migration plan

GB NEWS
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 10/04/2024

- 17:40

Updated: 10/04/2024

- 19:18

The Brussels bloc passed an asylum and migration pact through its Parliament after eight years of deadlock

The European Union faces a revolt from a number of member states just hours after passing a new migration pact to cross-continent asylum plan.

Hungary and Poland delivered Brussels with an immediate blow, with Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz voicing opposition to the proposal.


Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was previously President of the European Council, said he will not agree to a new law obliging every country in the bloc to take its share of people.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó expressed his concern about the plan, claiming it was essentially green-lighting illegal immigration.

Donald Tusk, Viktor Orban, the migrant crisis and EU ParliamentDonald Tusk and Viktor Orban could torpedo the EU's migration pactGETTY

The system would supposedly see lesser impacted member states take on migrants from overwhelmed allies, including Italy and Greece.

The plan, which will ensure EU countries will have to relocate asylum applicants from nations disproportionately impacted by the crisis, was backed by 322 MEPs.

A total of 266 MEPs opposed the measures, with 31 MEPs also abstaining.

Despite clear dividing lines emerging in Brussels, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomed this afternoon's vote.

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European Parliament President Roberta Metsola

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola participates in a media conference at the European Parliament

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She said: "History made. We have delivered a robust legislative framework on how to deal with migration and asylum in the EU.

"It has been more than ten years in the making. But we kept our word. A balance between solidarity and responsibility. This is the European way."

French populist Jordan Bardella, who emerged as Marine Le Pen's right-hand man in the National Rally, reiterated his concern about the plan and issued a warning to Emmanuel Macron ahead of the EU Parliamentary Elections.

He said: "Supported by Emmanuel Macron, the terrible European Migration Pact, which imposes the distribution of migrants in our municipalities under penalty of financial sanctions, has just been adopted.

Members of Parliament react by holding a sign reading "for humane migration"

Members of Parliament react by holding a sign reading "for humane migration"

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"On June 9, let's impose the heaviest possible defeat on it and refuse this submergence project!"

However, human rights groups have also criticised the EU's centralised plan.

Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s head of the European institutions office, argued: "EU institutions are now shamefully co-signing an agreement that they know will lead to greater human suffering."

She added: "This pact is a failure to show global leadership on refugee protection and building safe, fair and dignified pathways for people to reach Europe - whether in search of safety or of opportunity."

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