The Members of the Parliament of the European Union (MEPs) have voted to begin talks on new regulations governing the screening of asylum seekers from Nigeria and other developing nations seeking asylum in an EU member state.

With 419 votes in favour, 126 votes against, and 30 abstentions, MEPS resolved to begin discussions on a new regulation on the screening of citizens from third countries.

According to reports, members of the parliament agreed to hold negotiations with member states on a number of migration and asylum issues in order to gain stronger control over Nigeria and other third-country nationals who are seeking entrance into member countries for migration purposes.

“Plenary agreed on Thursday to open talks with EU member states on several migration and asylum policy files. MEPs approved entering into interinstitutional negotiations on all the files on which they voted,” statement released by the Parliament read.

The new regulations will call for security checks, fingerprints, identification, as well as an initial evaluation of one’s health and vulnerability. MEPs also included an independent basic rights monitoring system to ensure that pushbacks are documented and looked into.

The new regulations would apply at EU borders to individuals who do not meet the entry requirements of a member state, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com. They also approved negotiations on this new law.

“The screening should help to ensure that the third-country nationals concerned are referred to the appropriate procedures at the earliest stage possible and that the procedures are continued without interruption and delay. At the same time, the screening could help discourage secondary movements in the Schengen area,”one of the amendments partly read.

The MEPs also supported a negotiation mandate for the key piece of law governing the administration of immigration and asylum that is part of the Asylum and Migration package, last week.

This particular legislation, according to the Parliament, sets down how the EU and its member states will work together to manage immigration and asylum. It also establishes clearer criteria for identifying member states’ obligations in properly allocating duties and processing refugee claims.

A negotiating mandate for suggested modifications to the long-term resident directive was also approved by MEPs in addition to the aforementioned. In accordance with the new regulations, the Parliament aims to quicken the process of issuing long-term permits for three years of legal residence as well as the opportunity for integrating those who are currently in the EU with temporary protection status.

Long-term residents of the EU will be able to migrate to another member state without facing additional employment limitations as soon as the new regulations governing the long-term resident directive are approved and go into force. They will also instantly receive the same status as their dependent children.