Key facts
- The EU's new migration policy, a pact of 10 reforms, officially begins.
- The reforms aim to reduce irregular arrivals, speed up deportation procedures, and track asylum seekers.
- A solidarity mechanism allows member states to either relocate migrants or contribute financially.
- Hungary and Slovakia have refused to participate in the solidarity mechanism.
- Refugee organizations warn that the new rules may undermine fundamental rights and safeguards.
The European Union has implemented a significant overhaul of its migration policy, known as the Pact for Migration and Asylum, aiming to regain control over arrivals and establish a more coordinated approach among member states. This decade-long effort follows the 2015 migrant crisis, which exposed critical weaknesses in the EU's ability to manage large influxes and coordinate responses.
The new framework introduces border screenings and accelerated procedures for asylum seekers deemed unlikely to qualify, particularly those from countries considered safe. A central component is the enhanced Eurodac database, which will collect biometric data like fingerprints and travel documents to track asylum seekers' movements within the bloc.
A key element is the solidarity mechanism, designed to support frontline states like Greece, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus. Under this system, member states can either accept a set number of migrants or contribute financially to those countries bearing the brunt of arrivals. The initial target involved relocating 21,000 migrants or a financial contribution of €420 million.
However, the implementation faces challenges. Several countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, have refused to participate in the solidarity mechanism, either by relocating migrants or providing financial aid. This resistance highlights the persistent difficulties in achieving equitable burden-sharing among EU members.
Refugee advocacy groups have voiced strong concerns, arguing that the new rules will lead to harsher conditions, limit access to fair asylum procedures, and undermine essential safeguards for vulnerable individuals. They question whether member states are adequately prepared to implement the pact without compromising fundamental rights.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of the new rules on the first day of implementation is uncertain, with reports indicating that several countries are behind schedule in their preparations. The pact's success hinges on the smooth functioning of its various components, with warnings that failure to ease the burden on pressured states could lead to a recurrence of the 2015 situation. There are also concerns that the migration overhaul could be exploited by far-right political movements in upcoming European elections.