EU countries agree positions on new migrant 'returns policy'

The European Union (EU) countries on Monday agreed their final negotiating positions for several proposed migration laws on new asylum rules, a common EU list of “safe countries of origin” and an EU-wide policy for illegal migrant returns, statements from the Council of the European Union said.

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Despite strong criticism from more than 200 organisations, the key elements of the European Commission’s proposals will likely become law.

The Council will now negotiate its positions with the European Parliament to agree the final legal texts. Parliament has not agreed its final position but recent drafts retain the same elements.