MEPs to vote on divisive migration policy in ‘big moment for Europe’

Proponents of legislation for bloc say it will take away far-right arguments but critics claim the opposite

One MEP said that the legislation did not do anything to reduce the number of people killed while making perilous crossings. File Picture: Johanna de Tessieres/ SOS Mediterranee via AP, HO

The European parliament is to vote on Wednesday on sweeping new laws to overhaul its migration policy amid renewed criticism that it is feeding the agenda of the extreme right rather than protecting vulnerable people.

Ylva Johansson, the home affairs commissioner who was the driving force behind the legislation, said on Tuesday that with the reforms aimed at “managing migration in an orderly way”, the 27-member bloc was taking a step towards neutralising the populist far right.