Malta has abstained from its vote in sweeping EU migration and asylum laws that many are calling a historic breakthrough.

After years of deadlock fighting, interior ministers in Luxembourg struck a deal to introduce radical reform, which included charges of €20,000 per head for member states that refuse to host refugees.

The proposed laws called for EU countries to share the hosting of asylum-seekers who mainly arrive in the EU’s borders, from Greece and Italy. Those who do not want to share and host will have to pay €20,000 per person into a dedicated fund managed by Brussels.

Poland and Hungary voted against the proposals, while Malta, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Slovakia abstained.

Another part of the text will oblige member states to put in place “fast-track” procedures at borders for arrivals from countries they deem safe in order to facilitate their return.

Controversially, each country can deem what they consider to be safe, according to different definitions that are yet to be revealed.

Negotiations with the European Parliament on the legislation could be adopted before European elections in June next year, as Parliament president Roberta Metsola said lawmakers were reading to begin immediately.

What do you make of these reforms?