The Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted in 2024, establishes a comprehensive reform of the EU migration and asylum framework. It brings together ten interlinked legislative acts covering border management, asylum procedures, reception conditions, return policy, responsibility rules, solidarity mechanisms and safeguards. After a two-year transition period, the Pact will start to apply on 12 June 2026. While significant progress has been achieved across Member States and EU institutions, the Commission notes that further efforts are required to ensure full operational readiness across all components.

Across the different components of the framework, the Commission identifies a number of key areas where further work is required:

• Eurodac: Member States must ensure the timely deployment of the new Eurodac system, the central biometric database supporting the Pact, including full testing, procurement of IT tools and adequate training of relevant staff.
   
• External borders and screening: Screening procedures, border infrastructure and related operational systems must be fully established. Particular attention is needed to prevent absconding and secondary movements and to ensure the effective functioning of procedures at the external borders.
   
• Reception: Member States are required to address gaps in reception capacity and quality standards, including staffing needs and infrastructure, while ensuring appropriate safeguards for vulnerable groups such as children and unaccompanied minors.
   
• Asylum procedures: Efforts must continue to reduce backlogs, strengthen administrative and judicial capacity, and ensure effective access to asylum procedures, supported by improved coordination between national authorities.
   
• Return procedures: The Commission calls for more efficient return and readmission systems, increased use of operational support from Frontex, and stronger cooperation with third countries to ensure effective implementation.
   
• Responsibility rules: Preparations for the new responsibility framework require further operational cooperation between Member States, including arrangements for transfers and the adaptation of national administrative and digital systems.
   
• Solidarity mechanism: Work is ongoing on the implementation of the first Solidarity Pool, which is considered essential to ensure a balanced and effective distribution of responsibility across Member States.
   
• Preparedness and contingency planning: Member States are encouraged to finalise, update and test their contingency plans, improve coordination mechanisms and define clear operational thresholds and activation procedures.
   
• Safeguards and fundamental rights: Legal counselling, guardianship systems for unaccompanied minors and mechanisms for monitoring fundamental rights must be further strengthened and fully operationalised across all Member States.
   
• Resettlement, inclusion and integration: Member States are encouraged to strengthen integration systems, including access to language training, labour market support and recognition of qualifications, and to move towards more structured and long-term integration policies.

The Commission also highlights ongoing work on preparedness, data collection and reporting systems, as well as continued support provided by EU agencies such as the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Frontex and eu-LISA. These agencies assist Member States through technical guidance, training and operational coordination.

Overall, while the main building blocks of the Pact are now in place, the Commission underlines that full and consistent implementation ahead of June 2026 will require continued efforts across all Member States. It stresses that the effectiveness of the new system will depend on sustained progress not only before entry into application, but also in the period that follows.

For further details, please read the report attached below.