The European Union launched working on the details of its new market-wide pact on migration and asylum, Emerging Risks reproted.
Following last week’s European Parliament elections, a political shift to the right in countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands has begun work on making the Migration and Asylum Pact agreement a reality.
The European Union said it has begun work to “translate a large and complex set of legislative acts into an operational reality over the next two years.”
The Common Implementation Plan for the Migration and Asylum Pact, adopted by the Commission this week, sets out key milestones for all Member States to build the legal and operational capacities needed to successfully implement the new legislation by the middle of 2026. For instance, Member States must submit national asylum plans by December, which will come into force in 2026. The rules will tighten the bloc’s borders for irregular migrants, who will face faster screening procedures and expedited deportation.
In addition, countries must set up new border centres to detain migrants while their asylum requests are prepared and processed. The new rules also require an EU country to accept thousands of asylum seekers from frontline states such as Italy and Greece, or instead provide money or other resources to countries under pressure.
We are presenting a blueprint for the next two years of work to help make the Pact on Migration and Asylum a reality on the ground. This is further testament to the Commission’s determination to spare no effort in ensuring Member States have all the expertise, operational and financial support they need to turn legal commitments into practice, according to Margaritis Schinas, vice-president for Promoting our European Way of Life.
Building blocks
The Common Implementation Plan groups legal, technical and operational work into 10 building blocks to focus and facilitate practical implementation efforts. Among them are: a common migration and asylum information system (Eurodac), a new system to manage migration at the EU external borders; fair, efficient and convergent asylum and return procedures, also – making solidarity work and others. The European Union stated:
The Commission is pursuing with the Member States a two-track approach, accompanying legislative work at EU level with operational activities. This notably includes work on the external dimension of migration, through the pursuit of comprehensive partnerships with partner countries. While actions in this area are not tied to legal obligations, it will be essential for the EU to continue and further intensify work with partner countries, notably in three key areas: the fight against migrant smuggling, effective returns, readmission and reintegration as well as legal pathways.
YIva Johansson, commissioner for Home Affairs added: “We go from word to action, with a common goal; to implement what we have agreed on. (…) Members States can fully count on the Commission and EU Agencies and our financial and operational support.”
Despite, earlier the European Court of Justice fined Hungary for non-compliance with asylum laws. Hungary faces a fine of 200 million euros and a daily fine of one million euros for failing to comply with the bloc’s asylum laws.
