EU launches new migration and asylum pact amid mixed readiness
The European Union began implementing a comprehensive migration and asylum framework on Friday, though the Commission acknowledges that no member state is fully prepared.
The European Union started to apply a new migration and asylum pact on Friday, aiming to standardise procedures across its 27 members. The agreement replaces a fragmented system that critics said had failed and become a political flashpoint.
Under the pact, migrants arriving at EU borders may be screened for up to seven days before admission, and asylum applications deemed low-risk or from designated “safe” countries will be processed in three months instead of six. Applicants identified as security threats could be detained at the border and will receive a single opportunity to appeal a rejection. The Commission noted that several states still need to establish the Eurodac biometric database and build facilities for screening, processing and detention, as well as ensure independent rights monitoring.
A key element of the pact is to accelerate voluntary and forced returns of rejected asylum-seekers, with automatic return orders issued upon rejection. The European Agency for Asylum reported about 802,000 pending first-time applications in March, and discussions are ongoing about “return hubs” in third countries.
The agreement also introduces a solidarity mechanism to share responsibility for asylum-seekers. Countries that receive migrants can either take in a share of applicants or provide financial compensation, and they may offset their obligations if migrants move onward to other states. Some members, such as Poland and Hungary, have expressed opposition, citing security concerns and existing hard-line policies.
Implementation will extend beyond the June 12 deadline, as no country is fully ready. > "It won’t be like a light switch turning on June 12," said Susan Fratzke, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. Human-rights groups warned that faster procedures could increase detentions and limit fair hearings. > "The pact slams the door in the face of people who deserve to be treated with dignity and to have a fair hearing of their claims for protection," said Judith Sunderland of Human Rights Watch. > Lukas Gehrke of the International Organization for Migration said the EU should increase funding for integration programmes alongside stricter deportations.
