Key facts
- The EU has finalized a new migration pact with common rules for border controls and asylum.
- A compulsory solidarity mechanism requires all member states to accept asylum seekers or contribute financially.
- Countries like Greece, Spain, and Cyprus will see migrants redistributed, while others like Poland are categorized as 'under pressure'.
- Poland has secured a temporary exemption from relocation obligations for 2026 due to the Ukraine refugee crisis and border situation with Belarus.
- The pact is a permanent mechanism, subject to annual reviews and potential exemptions for emergency situations.
- A separate regulation on returning migrants, proposing extended detention and third-country centers, will be voted on in the European Parliament.
The European Union has finalized a new migration pact aimed at creating a unified approach to managing asylum seekers and border controls across all 27 member states. This pact moves away from the 'first country' rule, which placed responsibility on the nation where a migrant first arrived, and introduces a principle of 'compulsory solidarity'.
Under the new system, all EU countries will share responsibility for migrants. This can be fulfilled by accepting a calculated number of asylum seekers or by contributing financially. Countries most affected by irregular migration, such as Greece, Spain, and Cyprus, will see some migrants redistributed and will receive financial support. Other member states are categorized as 'assisting countries' and must help either by accepting migrants or providing funds.
Poland, along with Croatia, Austria, Estonia, and Czechia, is classified as a country 'under pressure'. However, Poland has secured a temporary exemption from the relocation obligation for 2026. This exemption is due to the significant influx of refugees from Ukraine and an ongoing migration crisis on its border with Belarus. The pact is designed as a permanent mechanism, with the European Commission responsible for annual reports and mid-year reviews of its effectiveness. Exemptions for emergency situations can be requested, subject to the Commission's final decision.
Separately, a regulation concerning the return of migrants proposes extended detention periods and the potential establishment of migrant centers outside the EU through agreements with third countries. This approach has faced legal challenges in Italy. The regulation is scheduled for a vote in the European Parliament.