Sanchez: EU wants agreement on migration policy by end of year

(Patria) - The European Union wants an agreement by the end of 2023 on how to deal with the thousands of migrants heading to the continent, despite opposition from Hungary and Poland, said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, AFP reported.

Officials hope for an agreement on relocating migrants seeking asylum within the 27-member bloc, amid claims by countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain that they are unfairly burdened as main points of arrival. Nationalist governments in Hungary and Poland have particularly opposed the redistribution plan, in a dispute that erupted last week during a European Union summit.

"I hope... that we will be able to resolve this major issue during this mandate," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

"For Spain, it would be significant, even symbolic from a political point of view... after years of the migrant crisis," he added, insisting on the need for "coordination and cooperation."

Warsaw and Budapest backed out of a declaration at last week's summit that would have included a general EU agreement for member states to share accommodation for asylum seekers, or pay those who do. Both countries say any such agreement should be approved unanimously, rather than by qualified majority.

In June, EU interior ministers agreed that political decisions on asylum seekers would be made by qualified majority, representing 15 of the 27 EU members, and at least 65 percent of the bloc's population. The qualified majority decision is "embedded in the treaties," Sanchez said, and "there is no greater political legitimacy than respecting the agreement."