EU Migration Pact Takes Effect With Solidarity Rules for All Member States

The EU migration pact entered into force, requiring all 27 member states to follow a single set of rules on border controls, asylum procedures, reception conditions and relocation of asylum seekers. The pact replaces the previous Dublin system under which responsibility for a migrant rested with the first country of arrival.

Under the new rules, member states must either accept relocated asylum seekers or contribute financially through payments or infrastructure support.

EU countries are divided into three groups.

Cyprus, Greece and Spain are classified as countries benefiting from the pact and will receive partial redistribution of migrants along with financial support. Poland, Croatia, Austria, Estonia and Czechia fall under countries under pressure. Poland received a temporary exemption from the solidarity mechanism for 2026 due to the influx of refugees from Ukraine and the situation on the Belarus border.

All remaining member states are classified as assisting countries and must either accept migrants or provide financial contributions. The European Commission calculated a relocation pool of 21,000 people for 2026.

The European Commission will issue an annual report on the migration situation in each member state. Countries may request exemptions based on emergency situations, though the Commission makes the final decision. The Commission will also conduct a mid-year review to assess how the pact functions in practice. Slovakia and Hungary have stated they will not accept any relocated migrants.

The migration pact does not establish return centers outside the EU. That proposal appears in separate legislation on returning migrants that would allow agreements with third countries and extend detention periods to two years. Poland's exemption from relocation obligations for 2026 is not permanent.