Historic EU deal reached on how to manage sudden rise in asylum seekers

The pact was sealed early on Wednesday morning, ending three years of arguments between member states

President of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: AP

The EU has reached a historic agreement on how member states will deal with a sudden increase in the number of people seeking asylum in the event of war, natural disaster or climate emergency.

The new rules will allow frontline states to fast-track asylum applications and move people swiftly to other countries in Europe, avoiding a repeat of 2015 when 1 million refugees came to the EU from Syria and beyond, and some countries accepted far more than others.