The Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force on 12 June

Today, 12 June 2026, thePact on Migration and Asylumwill enter into force in all EU Member States. Adopted in May 2024, the Pact has reformed the EU’s framework on migration and asylum and now forms the centrepiece of the EU’s new approach in this area. For the first time, the EU has a comprehensive migration and asylum framework, which includes robust protection of external borders, fair and firm asylum rules, and a balance between solidarity and responsibility.

Ursulavon der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated:“Migration is a European challenge that must be addressed with a European solution. An effective, fair and firm solution. This is precisely what the Pact on Migration and Asylum offers: more secure external borders, solidarity among Member States, and more efficient procedures for asylum and return. And to jointly address the root causes of migration, we continue to strengthen our relations with international partners.”

The EU has opened a new chapter on migration and asylum, of which the Pact on Migration and Asylum is a key element. This Pact is complemented by robust migration diplomacy, technologically advanced border protection (with theEntry/Exit Systemalready in place and fully operational) and new rules to streamline and makereturnsmore effective, as outlined in theEuropean Strategy on Asylum and Migration. The new approach is already yielding positive results, with a 55% decrease in illegal border crossings compared to two years ago.

The key elementsof the Pact on Migration and Asylum include:

• Secure external borders, with mandatory registration and thorough security checks for all irregular migrants who cross EU borders illegally, accelerated border procedures in border zones for those who do not require protection, do not pose a security risk or mislead the authorities, and rapid returns, without the person being authorised to enter EU territory.
• Robust and fair asylum procedures, includingshorter processing times for asylum applications, stricter rules on abusive and repeat applications, and rules to better prevent secondary movements.
• EU-wide standards on reception conditions, ensuring dignified reception across the EU, reducing incentives for secondary movements and facilitating faster access to the labour market (already after 6 months).
• A fair balance betweensolidarity and responsibility, with a mandatory and permanent solidarity mechanism, and the possibility for Member States to contribute to solidarity in a flexible manner, taking into account the specific situation of each Member State. It also includes clearer rules on which Member State is responsible for processing an asylum application, as well as faster procedures for transferring applicants back to the responsible Member State.
• Strong protection measures to ensure respect for fundamental rights, including an independent monitoring mechanism during the selection process and the asylum procedure at the border. 

From tomorrow (12 June), the new rules will be fully applicable and Member States will be able to implement them in practice.

To mark this milestone, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, will take part tomorrow in an informal ministerial conference organised by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council in Nicosia. A press conference will be held tomorrow at approximately 12:45 CEST and will be broadcast live onEBS.

Next steps

The fundamental pillars of the new system are now in place. Looking ahead, the implementation of this complex set of reforms requires significant legal and operational work. Member States will continue to adapt and refine the new procedures in the coming months, with the ongoing support of the Commission and EU agencies.

At the same time, the Commission, together with the Member States, will continue to strengthen its migration diplomacy tools and collaborate with international partners, including countries of origin and transit, whilst ensuring that the EU has the necessary rules and procedures in place to attract the skills it needs to boost the competitiveness of our economies.

More information: European Commission.