Beatrice Romana Verga

The new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is set to reshape migration governance in Europe. How will it impact policies, asylum procedures, integration and solidarity among Member States? What are the key challenges and opportunities ahead? Follow our in-depth series starting today, February 5th, to stay informed and engaged in the debate!

Introduction

In May 2024, after three years of hard and complex negotiations, the European Parliament and the European Council formally adopted the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum as part of its efforts to address the growing challenges related to migration. The Pact entered into force on 11 June 2024 and will enter into application after two years, as of 12 June 2026, so that Member States will have the time to introduce the changes for the reception conditions directive to their national laws.

We will explore this subject through 4 different articles that will be online on 5/02, 12/02, 19/02, 26/02. 

The Pact consists of a set of new rules concerning the management of migration, the security at the EU’s external borders and the EU’s common asylum system, which aim to create a more fair, sustainable and efficient migration and asylum system across Europe. 

It emphasizes the importance of integrating refugees effectively into society. Integration represents one of the most complex and urgent tasks for the EU, requiring a combination of social, economic and cultural policies to address the needs of refugees while also responding to concerns within host communities. 

Guided by the Common Implementation Plan, the next step for EU Member States is to prepare their respective national implementation plans. EU Agencies will also provide both operational and targeted support. 

The Context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum 

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was designed to address the growing challenges of migration flows, political crises, and humanitarian emergencies. 

It focuses on simplifying and harmonizing asylum procedures to reduce disparities across member states, moving towards a more coordinated system. A key aspect is enhancing solidarity between states, ensuring a shared responsibility for welcoming refugees, which includes the redistribution of asylum seekers and strengthening cooperation within the EU. 

Furthermore, it also emphasizes partnerships with third countries, aiming to address the root causes of irregular migration and improve protection mechanisms in regions of origin and transit. Central to this approach is refugee integration, which is essential for the long-term sustainability of asylum policies.

A key feature of the Pact is the creation of a common migration and asylum information system, “Eurodac”, which will store and process asylum seekers’ data to support coordination and speed up application processing. 

Additionally, a new framework will manage irregular arrivals at the EU’s external borders, providing the tools for processing non-EU nationals and requiring all irregular migrants to undergo screening for identity, security risks, vulnerability, and health. 

This will also include maintaining adequate reception standards of living for applicants, ensuring their needs are met.

Moreover, the Reception Conditions Directive introduces new tools to improve the efficiency of reception systems and prevent secondary movements. Efforts will also be made to expedite voluntary returns by incentivizing cooperation from returnees.

The Pact also aims to streamline asylum procedures for fairness and efficiency, with a focus on uniform assessments and reinforcing safeguards for asylum seekers. Return procedures will be improved, with a Return Coordinator playing a central role in joint planning and voluntary return incentives. A new system will determine the responsible member state for each asylum application, while measures will be implemented to prevent abuse of the system, such as requiring applicants to apply in the state of first entry.

To enhance solidarity, the Pact introduces a flexible, legally binding solidarity mechanism to ensure no Member State is left to handle migration pressure alone. It also stresses the importance of preparedness and crisis response to strengthen resilience against evolving migration situations.

Lastly, the Pact includes measures to protect the fundamental rights and dignity of asylum seekers and vulnerable individuals, as well as increased efforts in resettlement, inclusion, and integration to ensure successful long-term integration into European societies.

This is just the beginning! Next week we will explore the real impact of the Pact on Refugee Integration. Don’t miss it!