I've found it a bit difficult to track down exactly which EU law this stems from - https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2010-10/docl_165

I've found it a bit difficult to track down exactly which EU law this stems from - https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2010-10/docl_16578_575022816.pdf https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files... makes reference to various council decisions, but those are not voted on by MEPs. Regardless, even if this is the clear result of a vote, and not some creative interpretation of law, Ireland has 14 MEPs, Germany has 96, and the whole EU has 720. Ireland can be dragged into anything even if their MEPs are in unanimous opposition. And given Irish resistance to changing their laws in this direction, clearly they don't all agree, which is why the EU must threaten them into compliance.