The European Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force on 12 June 2026: what does this mean?
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The countries of the European Union (EU) have jointly agreed on new arrangements regarding asylum and migration. These arrangements are known as the European Pact on Migration and Asylum. They will apply to all EU countries from 12 June 2026. In this article, you can read about what these arrangements entail and what they mean for you.
Why is this European pact coming into force now?
For years now, large numbers of people have been coming to Europe to seek asylum. Some countries in Europe have to take in far more people than others. This is the case, for example, with Greece, Italy and Spain. This is because they are often the first countries where refugees arrive in Europe. For many years, this has led to long waiting times, overcrowding in reception centres and uncertainty for asylum seekers in those countries. And these countries feel that the other European countries are not helping them enough. Europe has therefore long sought agreements on a common European asylum policy. And this has now been achieved with the
The countries of the
What are the key new agreements?
Faster and more rigorous identity checks (‘screening’) are to be introduced at Europe’s external borders
The screening determines which asylum procedure you will be placed in. Do you come from a country where few people are granted asylum in the EU? If so, you may be subject to a mandatory fast-track procedure at the border. This same fast-track procedure also applies to people without valid documents, and to people who have travelled to the Netherlands via a safe country. People in this procedure are told at the border whether their asylum application will be processed in the Netherlands.
Mandatory solidarity between EU countries
Under the pact, the country in which a refugee arrives in Europe remains responsible for that refugee. It must receive the refugee and make a decision on his or her asylum application. However, other EU countries must help out of a sense of solidarity if one country has to take in too many people. These other countries are free to choose how they help. They can help by taking in asylum seekers. But they can also do so by providing financial support or staff for procedures and reception centres in that country.
What is VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)'s view on the migration and asylum pact?
VWN is also concerned about the mandatory fast-track procedure at the border. This is because it will soon apply not only to people from safe countries, but also to refugees travelling to the Netherlands via safe countries, and to anyone without valid documents. Furthermore, the pact broadens the criteria for ‘safe third countries’. Europe wants to be able to send refugees to countries with which it will conclude agreements, on the basis that they could receive protection there.