The EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum – ‘a comprehensive migration and asylum framework with strong external border protection and fair and firm asylum rules’ – started to apply in all EU Member States from 12 June.
The new pact comes together with an assertive migration diplomacy, technologically advanced border protection (with the Entry-Exit System rolled out and fully applied), and new rules to make returns swifter and more effective, as outlined in the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy.
According to the Commission, the new approach is already showing strong results, with a 55% decrease in illegal border crossings compared to two years ago.
“After years of intense work, we now have a robust, balanced framework to manage migration in the EU”, said EC executive vice-president Henna Virkkunen: “The Pact on Migration and Asylum strengthens the protection of our external borders, it makes asylum procedures faster and more efficient and ensures the right balance between solidarity and responsibility.”
Core elements of the Pact on Migration and Asylum include:
- Secure external borders, with new mandatory registration and thorough security checks of all irregular migrants crossing the EU’s borders illegally, fast-track border procedures in border areas for those unlikely to be in need of protection, present a security risk or mislead the authorities, and swift returns – without the person being authorised to enter the territory of the EU.
- Firm and fair asylum procedures, including shorter time limits for asylum procedures, stricter rules for abusive and subsequent applications, and rules to better prevent secondary movements.
- EU-wide standards for reception conditions, ensuring dignified reception standards throughout the EU, reducing incentives for secondary movements and facilitating faster access to the labour market (already after 6 months).
- A fair balance between solidarity and responsibility, with a permanent mandatory solidarity mechanism and a possibility for Member States to contribute to solidarity in a flexible way, addressing 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 processes on transferring applicants back to the Member State in charge.
- Strong safeguards, to ensure compliance with fundamental rights including an independent monitoring mechanism in during the screening and the asylum border procedure.
Regulation establishing a new Common European System for Returns
