EUROPEAN UNION countries have agreed to share the responsibility for blocking migrants from entering Europe.

On Thursday EU interior ministers endorsed a deal balancing the obligation for countries where most migrants arrive to process and lodge them against the requirement for other members to provide support, whether financial or by hosting refugees.

The pact will form the 27 EU countries’ negotiating stance in talks with the European parliament, which requires countries to draw up detailed annual “migrant support plans” to help out front-line member states and the mandatory relocation of refugees.

Given the divergent positions, the agreement could unravel during those negotiations.

Swedish Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, described the deal as a historic step and a great success.

Not all countries endorsed the plan but only a “qualified majority” of support was required or member countries accounting for about two thirds of the total EU population of some 450 million people.

The Czech Republic asked to be left out of the migrant “solidarity” clause due to the number of refugees it is already hosting from Ukraine. 

Malta abstained, but the objections of Italy and Greece were overcome in a late round of talks.