"History made," European parliament president says Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, said “we kept out word,” calling the pact a “balance between solidarity and responsibility.” Summary of the day The European parliament approved the bloc’s new migration and asylum pact. The pact was passed despite earlier uncertainties over whether all parts of it would receive sufficient backing. The votes came after years of deadlock, debates and negotiations over the EU’s migration and asylum policies. The pact’s approval was met with a mix response. It was backed by the parliament’s biggest parties, but elicited strong criticism from some political groups and NGOs. Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, said “we kept out word,” calling the pact a “balance between solidarity and responsibility.” The European home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, told the Guardian: “I feel proud ... considering when I took office four and a half years ago, few thought we would make it.” MEP Tomas Tobé, from the centre-right European people’s party, said that “delivering on the new Migration Pact will allow us to regain control over our external borders and reduce the migration pressure on the EU,” he said. Iratxe García, president of the Socialists and Democrats group, said that “thanks to the unity of the S&D Group, we finally put a real European solution in place. This moves us away from ad-hoc crises responses to a permanent and sustainable procedure that governments can rely on.” Valérie Hayer, the president of the centrist Renew Europe, said “this marks an end to the unbearable failure by EU countries to find common ground on how to deal best with migration.” The Greens said that “with the migration pact, the lack of solidarity towards asylum seekers & between member states will only get worse.” The Left group in the European parliament said “today is a dark day for human rights, but the fight for a humane migration policy does not end here.” The French National Rally’s Jordan Bardella, a critic of the migration pact, has called it “terrible” and called for a “defeat” for the project in the upcoming European parliament election. Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s head of the European institutions office, said “EU institutions are now shamefully co-signing an agreement that they know will lead to greater human suffering.” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said after the votes that the migration and asylum pact will be making a “real difference” for Europeans. She said it would bring more secure borders, knowing who crosses the borders, while ensuring respect for fundamental rights. The pact strikes a balance, she said. The pact is about how best to pull our weight together, she said, noting that the EU will continue fulfilling international obligations, but must be the ones deciding who comes into the bloc – not smugglers. The EU will continue working with global partners to address root causes of migration, von der Leyen said, adding that this work is delivering. We delivered a European solution, but our work is not done yet, the Commission president said. "We have acted", Metsola says Addressing reporters after today’s votes, the European parliament president, Roberta Metsola, said “we have listened, we have acted, and we have delivered on one of the main concerns of people across Europe.” “This is a historic day for Europe,” she said, thanking lawmakers who spent years working on the migration pact. “EU institutions are now shamefully co-signing an agreement that they know will lead to greater human suffering,” said Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s head of the European institutions office. “For people escaping conflict, persecution or economic insecurity these reforms will mean less protection and a greater risk of facing human rights violations across Europe - including illegal and violent pushbacks, arbitrary detention and discriminatory policing,” she said. Geddie 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. Here’s how the votes went: Solidarity and relocation of migrations measure including the Asylum and Migration Management For: 322 Against 266 Abstentions: 31 Crisis and force majeure measures For: 301 Against: 272 Abstentions 46 Screening of third country nationals For: 414 Against: 182 Abstentions: 29 Eurodac database For: 404 Against: 202 Abstentions 16 Qualification for asylum standardisation For: 398 Against: 162 Abstentions: 60 Safe and legal way to Europe measures For: 452 Against: 154 Abstentions 14 Note the larger majority for screening and Eurodac bills, which the far right parties said previously they would support. The European home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, is walking around the lobby outside the hemisphere with a big smile on her face. She was responsible for shepherding through the legislation over the last four years. “I feel proud ... considering when I took office four and a half years ago, few thought we would make it,” she told the Guardian. “This is unprecedented. It is a historic decision from the EU. Finally we will have a migration policy to allow us to manage migration in a more orderly way.” Immediately after the vote, Donald Tusk has said he will not accept the relocation of migrants from other nations under the solidarity rules just been voted through. However experts point out that any country can opt out of this if they pay €20,000 per migrant or provide some “measures in kind” which can include the donation of experts, technical equipment or anything else needed by states under pressure. "Dark day for human rights," Left group says following pact approval “Today is a dark day for human rights, but the fight for a humane migration policy does not end here,” the Left group in the European parliament said after MEPs approved the migration and asylum pact. “Movements, NGOs, collectives and this group will not stop demanding justice and solidarity,” the group said. The Hungarian government has reiterated its opposition to the migration pact. "Historic": German chancellor welcomes migration pact The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has called the migration and asylum pact a historic step. "Only get worse": Greens criticise migration pact after vote The Greens in the European parliament, who have opposed the package, said after today’s votes that “with the migration pact, the lack of solidarity towards asylum seekers & between member states will only get worse.” “Real solidarity is about sharing the responsibility fairly both within the EU and international partners & standing up to our values & fighting for human rights,” the Greens said. The French National Rally’s Jordan Bardella, a critic of the migration pact, has called it “terrible” and called for a “defeat” for the project in the upcoming European parliament election. The message was also echoed by Marine Le Pen. A group of 22 NGOs has issued a statement arguing that “while the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum today is likely to lead to a detrimental degradation of people’s access to protection in Europe, the new Union Resettlement Framework (URF) adopted alongside the Pact offers a glimmer of hope.” “The URF signals the EU’s political support for global resettlement efforts and has the potential to be a step towards advancing solidarity, capacity-building and responsibility sharing. It must now be operationalised effectively to ensure that more people reach safety and find long-term solutions,” the groups, which include the International Rescue Committee and Oxfam, said. Renew president says those opposed to pact "surf on people’s misery" Valérie Hayer, the president of the centrist Renew Europe, said “throughout this mandate, Renew Europe has advocated for enhancing the EU’s asylum system, today it’s a reality.” She added: This marks an end to the unbearable failure by EU countries to find common ground on how to deal best with migration. The candidates standing in the EU elections who voted against this agreement are those who don’t want changes, but surf on people’s misery. Despite the attempts of the far-right to block European solutions, the EU is demonstrating that united, we can establish this needed reform. Centre-right celebrates migration pact approval “We have successfully put an end to the political deadlock that has characterised migration for many years,” the centre-right European People’s party MEP Tomas Tobé said in a statement after the voting ended. “Delivering on the new Migration Pact will allow us to regain control over our external borders and reduce the migration pressure on the EU,” he said. The EPP has also said it “led the efforts towards a common European solution on EU Migration” and that “today, we delivered.” "Not perfect": migration pact wins backing despite qualms Some MEPs said they voted in favour of the migration deal, despite criticism and doubts. "History made," European parliament president says Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, said “we kept out word,” calling the pact a “balance between solidarity and responsibility.” EU migration pact adopted The migration and asylum pact has been adopted.