New Immigration Reforms Could Evenly Distribute Migrants Across E.U.

The European Union is exploring options for a “more humane and efficient” strategy in its handling and treatment of migrants who arrive in Europe.

On Wednesday, the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive council, announced in a press release that it was launching a reform process that would establish “a fair and sustainable system for allocating asylum applicants” across the E.U.’s member states. This would putatively terminate a law under which migrants apply for asylum in the country through which they first enter the E.U. Currently, that country for many is Greece, which has been a major entry point for migrants arriving from the Middle East by way of Turkey.

“Such reforms are a necessary complement to the actions undertaken to reduce irregular flows to and within Europe, and protecting our external borders,” Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Commission’s migration and home affairs commissioner, said.