EU approves major reform of migration rules

After years of negotiations, the European Parliament has approved a major reform of the EU's migration and asylum rules.

The EU Asylum and Migration Pact has been in the works since 2015. It will come into force in two years' time.

It is designed to speed up the asylum process and boost the return of irregular migrants to home countries.

It will also require EU member states to share responsibility for asylum seekers.

Last years saw some 380,000 people illegally crossing the EU's borders - the highest number since 2016.

The migration pact was backed by the two main political groups - the centre-right European People's Party Group (EPP Group) and the centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D).

Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, said it struck a "balance between solidarity and responsibility".

However, left-wing and far-right groups opposed the agreement.

And many NGOs also urged MEPs to vote down the reform, with Amnesty International warning the pact would lead to a "surge in suffering" for asylum seekers.