European Union nations have endorsed sweeping reforms to the bloc’s asylum system in preparation for upcoming Europe-wide elections. The new pact on migration and asylum includes rules for screening unauthorized entrants and deporting those who do not qualify for protection. Hungary and Poland, who have opposed obligations to host migrants, voted against the package. Mainstream parties hope the system will prevent the far right from gaining support in the elections.
The reform package, which will only come into effect in 2026, aims to address the issues that have divided EU nations since the 2015 migrant crisis. Critics of the pact fear it will allow nations to detain migrants at borders and infringe on their right to claim asylum. The pact is seen as a way to keep people out and may lead to questionable deals with poorer countries. The EU has struggled to manage the influx of migrants, leaving countries like Greece, Italy, and Malta to bear the financial burden.
The new rules apply to migrants who cross an external EU border without permission, estimated at around 300,000 individuals last year. Screening will be conducted upon arrival to determine if a person poses a health or security risk and their chances of being allowed to stay. Those fleeing conflict or persecution are more likely to qualify for asylum, while economic migrants may be denied entry. Asylum seekers must apply in the first EU nation they enter and may be relocated based on family or cultural ties.
The asylum procedure should be completed within 12 weeks, with the possibility of an appeal if the application is rejected. Those rejected will receive a deportation order, which is intended to speed up the process. To facilitate deportations, the EU’s border agency will assist in organizing joint flights. However, challenges remain in ensuring countries fulfill their obligations and in enforcing the new rules. Hungary, a vocal opponent of the reforms, will assume the EU presidency in July, potentially complicating implementation.
The new rules also require countries to assist each other under migratory pressure, with support being mandatory but flexible in nature. Assistance may include relocating applicants or providing financial, technical, or logistical support. Challenges lie ahead in fully enacting the plan and in ensuring the European Commission enforces the rules, as it has previously chosen not to do so. The commission is expected to present a Common Implementation Plan by June to guide the pact’s implementation over the next two years.
