The regulation addressing crisis situation and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum is part of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the Commission on 23 September 2020. 

The above-mentioned regulation establishes the framework that would allow Member States to address situations of crisis in the field of asylum and migration by adjusting certain rules, for instance concerning the registration of asylum applications or the asylum border procedure. These countries would also be able to request solidarity and support measures from the EU and its Member States.

A Member State that is facing a crisis situation may request solidarity contributions from other EU countries. These contributions can take the form of:

• the relocation of asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection from the Member State in a crisis situation to contributing Member States;
• responsibility offsets, i.e. the supporting Member State would take over the responsibility to examine asylum claims with a view to relief the Member State that finds itself in a crisis situation;
• financial contributions or alternative solidarity measures.

For further information, please read the press release from the Council of the European Union and the Statement of the EU Commisison on the political agreement in the Council on the Crisis Proposal.