EU Nears Breakthrough on Asylum Crisis with New Migration Reforms

The European Union is expected to reach an agreement on how to handle irregular immigration in the coming days, following talks among ministers that failed to produce a final deal. Germany and Italy, concerned about rising arrivals ahead of key elections, were searching for a system to share out asylum seekers who reach Europe outside of official border crossings. The bloc's 27 governments aim to have a functioning migration system in place ahead of the 2024 pan-EU parliamentary election. Germany recently announced new border controls due to a nearly 80% rise in asylum requests this year. The ministers also discussed seeking a deal with Egypt to prevent more people from setting off for Europe from the southern shores of the Mediterranean.