The European Parliament and Council have finally reached an agreement allowing a change of pace in European migration and asylum rules. It comes in the form of five separate regulations that set out how to share the management of flows among Member States and what to do in cases of sudden migratory crisis. Rules are also laid down on how to deal with people arriving at the EU’s external borders, the processing of asylum claims, and the identification of those arriving. For the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who spoke at a press conference this morning, “today is a truly historic day” because “we have finally delivered on the Pact on Migration and Asylum – probably the most important legislative deal of this mandate”. For President Metsola, this “robust and fair legislative framework in all Member States” provides for “an approach that is humane and fair with those seeking protection, that is firm with those who are not eligible, and that is strong with those who exploit the most vulnerable”. Among the new rules is “mandatory solidarity” with EU countries under migratory pressure, which means other Member States will have to choose whether to relocate asylum seekers to their territory or to make financial contributions. The criteria in the Dublin Regulation to determine responsibility for examining an application for international protection have also been redefined. A common procedure for granting and withdrawing international protection was introduced, which should last no longer than six months. Stricter rules were also introduced for the identification of those arriving in the EU territory.