European Union leaders have backed a revised migration and asylum pact after an overnight summit marked by tense negotiations over border policy and responsibility-sharing. The agreement remains provisional, but it signals movement on one of the bloc’s most politically divisive issues.

According to the reported deal, final language still needs approval from the European Parliament later this week before the package can be adopted. The talks focused on how to balance faster asylum procedures, stronger external border controls, and mechanisms for distributing pressure across member states.

The outcome comes after months of disagreement among governments facing different levels of migration pressure. Frontline states have pushed for broader burden-sharing, while other capitals have demanded tougher enforcement and clearer limits on irregular arrivals.

Even with the tentative breakthrough, the pact is unlikely to end debate inside the EU. Rights groups have repeatedly warned that expanded deterrence measures can place vulnerable people at greater risk, while supporters argue the bloc needs a system that is more orderly and politically sustainable.

Border policy

EU leaders back revised migration pact after overnight summit talks