European Parliament approves migration and asylum reform

The European Parliament narrowly approved the extensive reform of the European Union's migration and asylum policy on Wednesday.

Amid mounting dissent from both the right and left, the momentous vote proceeded on Wednesday afternoon, despite uncertainties.

Dubbed the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the legislation awaits final approval from member states at the end of the month. The pact aims to manage asylum seekers' reception and relocation collectively, addressing tensions stemming from the 2015-2016 migration crisis, without altering the long-standing "Dublin principle," which says the responsibility for an asylum application lies first with the first country of arrival. 

The proposal involves various intricate issues like fundamental rights, unaccompanied minors and financial contributions, which slowed down the legislative process. Despite challenges,...