Reforms to Europe’s Asylum System with Migration Being a “Fact of Life”

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UN data shows 124,000 people made it to the bloc across the Mediterranean last year and 1,319 died at sea, numbers that have fallen each year since 2015.

Southern EU states where migrants arrive, such as Greece, Italy and Malta, have demanded help.

Wealthy northern countries where many head after their arrival, such as Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, want an approach that would see asylum seekers distributed across the bloc.

But Eastern states led by Poland and Hungary refuse to host any.

Obligatory relocation

Von der Leyen said the new strategy would aim to improve migration management on the bloc's external borders, step up the fight against smugglers and reach more deals with third countries to house migrants in return for EU aid.

It would create clear, legal ways to reach Europe, and improve integration programs.

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Sources told Reuters the proposal would still include the most contentious element: obligatory relocation of asylum seekers among all member states at times of immigration spikes.