The European Parliament has voted in favour of negotiating directives for single and long-term residence permits in EU countries, aimed at speeding up application

procedures for third-country nationals. The proposal includes a single permit that people who are legally in the EU or have been granted international protection can apply for to reside and work in an EU country, and a long-term permit which would allow third-country nationals to apply for national authority to live and work in the territory for a long-term period after three years of living in the country.

The approval period for the long-term permit will be limited to 60 days, and dependent children will be eligible if their primary carer already has it. The European Parliament has also voted to start negotiations on the Pact of Migration and Asylum, which includes files dedicated to the solidarity mechanism on migration, screening procedures, and crisis management.