The EU is facing growing demands from more than half of its member states to allow them to control their own migration policies and asking for the right to introduce Rwanda-style deportation schemes.
Italy and the Czech Republic are leading the revolt, made up of 19 member states.
Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Czech leader Petr Fiala said: "The Czech Republic and Italy are among the countries that want to go beyond where the migration pact has taken us and want to find a real solution to illegal migration, which we do not yet have in Europe."
The EU has toughened up its migration policies in recent months, introducing a new pact to crack down on illegal arrivals. But many member states want to see the bloc go further.
The EU is facing growing demands from more than half of its member states to allow them to control their own migration policies and asking for the right to introduce Rwanda-style deportation schemes
PA
While the UK's Rwanda plan is close to getting off the ground after new legislation was passed into law last month, powers to send migrants to Rwanda under the Illegal Migration Act 2023 are at risk of being disapplied in Northern Ireland as a result of a ruling from the Belfast High Court.
Yesterday, judges ruled the Illegal Migration Act is incompatible with human rights protections guaranteed in the region under post-Brexit arrangements.
Mr Justice Humphreys also said aspects of the Act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The ruling could trigger a large influx of migrants to Northern Ireland.
Two challenges were brought against the Illegal Migration Act, focusing on the peace process human rights protections guaranteed by the Windsor Framework.
The judge found that several elements of the Act do cause a “significant” diminution of the rights enjoyed by asylum seekers residing in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
But Defence Secretary Grant Shapps vowed to appeal the ruling, telling GB News: "We're absolutely going to appeal that ruling. We don't accept that's the right way forward.
"We do think that Parliament has been very, very clear, and this Government in particular has said that we want to stop the boats.
"I’m afraid, whatever you think about this, we think that's the only way to break this illegal trade.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps vowed to appeal the ruling
GB NEWS
"I'm afraid the Labour Party wants to stop the planes, we want to stop the boats."
The EU voted to pass a landmark migration control pact in April, which leaders said will let the bloc "regain control" of its borders and crack down economic immigration.
The passing of the Migration and Asylum Pact, legislation which will overhaul the EU's migration and border rules, was met with positive responses by top European lawmakers and leaders, who described the decision as "historic".
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The plans include the detention of migrants for up to six months in some cases, as well as the detention of unaccompanied minors deemed to be a security risk.
They also limit the number of people coming into the EU, as well as coming to an agreement designed to share the cost of hosting migrants and refugees.
Ukrainian refugees will be exempt from the restrictions, as part of the EU's temporary protection directive.
