Key facts
- EU member states have significantly reduced their commitments under the new Pact on Migration.
- The pact introduces a border procedure to expedite asylum requests and returns.
- A 'mandatory solidarity' mechanism allows countries to host asylum seekers, pay financial contributions, or fund operational costs.
- For 2026, fewer than 9,000 asylum seeker relocations are planned, and financial contributions total approximately €76 million.
- Hungary and Slovakia have refused to contribute, while other nations have found ways to minimize their obligations.
- The final 'real' solidarity pledges amount to 8,878 relocations and €76.3 million.
The European Union's new Pact on Migration, which enters into force on Friday, aims to establish clear rules for managing migration across all member states. The pact includes eight legislative acts designed to enhance cooperation, enforce stricter border standards, and expedite asylum procedures. A key component is a system of 'mandatory solidarity,' offering member states options to host asylum seekers, provide financial contributions to frontline states, or fund operational border costs.
However, the 'mandatory solidarity' has been significantly diluted by member states' tactics to minimize their commitments. The planned relocations for 2026 fall far below the pact's minimum annual threshold, with fewer than 9,000 asylum seekers expected to be relocated, despite hundreds of thousands seeking asylum. Financial contributions from less affected nations are also substantially lower than initially foreseen.
The solidarity pool, intended to include a quota of relocations and financial contributions, has a minimum threshold of 30,000 relocations and €600 million. Despite the European Commission's mantra of 'solidarity is mandatory but flexible,' national governments have found ways to reduce their obligations. For 2026, countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus, considered under migratory pressure, are set to benefit, while others like Czechia, Croatia, Austria, and Poland received exemptions.
Member states successfully argued for prorating contributions for 2026 due to the new rules only covering the latter half of the year, further reducing the solidarity pool. EU Interior Ministers agreed to 21,000 relocations or other solidarity efforts and €420 million in financial contributions for the year.
Hungary and Slovakia have explicitly refused to contribute, either through relocations or financial means, a move that, while potentially leading to Commission infringement procedures, has not yet been sanctioned. Other countries have opted for financial contributions only, or are reluctant to accept any migrants. The actual solidarity contributions are further reduced because countries classified as under pressure, like Spain, are counted as beneficiaries, thus not making 'real' pledges. The final 'real' contributions amount to 8,878 relocations and €76.3 million.