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Brussels Unveils New Migrant Plan

Lisa Bryant

   PARIS - Five years after Europe's migrant crisis, the European Union is
   unveiling a long-awaited migration plan Wednesday that stresses
   mandatory burden sharing -- but also sending illegal migrants back to
   their home countries.

   The new so-called migration and asylum pact is the latest effort by the
   EU's executive arm to create a comprehensive plan for managing
   migration -- and to get all 27 member states behind it.

   Backed by Germany, the bloc's most powerful member and the EU's current
   rotating president, it includes mandatory rules for sharing the
   migration burden, whether that means hosting asylum seekers or
   sponsoring returns of failed applicants.

   It also aims to strengthen control of Europe's external borders, with
   new plans to screen all migrants and fast track those unlikely to get
   asylum, crack down on human trafficking-- and increasing support for
   countries of origin and transit to give people reasons to stay home.

   European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan
   strikes a fair balance between responsibility and solidarity among
   member states.

   "It is not a question of whether member states should support with
   solidarity and contributions but how they should support," said von der
   Leyen.

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