European Union leaders reached a breakthrough agreement on migration after a tense Brussels summit that had threatened to collapse over fundamental disagreements on burden sharing and border management.
The new framework establishes a mandatory solidarity mechanism requiring all 27 member states to either accept a quota of asylum seekers or make financial contributions.
Italy, Greece and Spain secured enhanced EU funding for border management and integration programmes as part of the deal.
Human rights organisations welcomed the framework’s focus on legal pathways but raised concerns about provisions allowing accelerated returns to safe third countries.
