New laws managing migration and establishing a common asylum system across the European Union come into force from today.
The Pact on Migration and Asylum is supposed to largely replace the so-called Dublin III Regulation whereby illegal migrants could be returned to the first EU country they arrived in, meaning mainly Greece, Italy and Spain.
Under the new system, EU member states are supposed to share the burden by taking a proportion of migrants or paying so-called frontline member states like Greece to look after them.
The laws also include provisions to better and more quickly process, register and respond to migrants arriving in the European Union.
But the system is still untested and EU officials are very reluctant to say how many migrants could be redistributed in the first year.
Ireland decided to opt into the Pact on Migration on Asylum when it was still under negotiation back in 2024.
That means Ireland has committed to “solidarity contribution” of €9.26 million next year, the first full year of operation.
Most EU countries have announced that they will make financial payments to member states on the front line rather than accept a share of migrants.
But a clause which commits to “burden sharing” in case of an emergency – in other words a sudden influx – could yet see asylum seekers redistributed.
The details remain unclear.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, said today was the “beginning, not the end” of the process.
“It is clear, on the first day, not everything will be fully functioning. That is logical with such a gigantic reform.”
The last piece of the puzzle, which is expected to be voted through the European Parliament only this summer, will see a new Returns Regulation.
This controversial piece of legislation will allow failed asylum seekers to be sent to non-EU countries they passed on their way to Europe, or another country deemed safe by the EU, even if that person has no connection to that country.
The law will also lay the foundation, for member states who want to, to set up so-called “return hubs”, processing centres outside the European Union where rejected asylum seekers or unauthorised migrants could be transferred to await deportation.
The European Commission insists that the new systems ensures “strong external border protection, fair and firm asylum rules, and a balance between solidarity and responsibility.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said:
“Migration is a European challenge which must be met with a European solution. One that is effective, fair and firm.
This is what the Pact on Migration and Asylum delivers – more secure external borders, solidarity between Member States and more efficient procedures for asylum and return. And to address the root causes of migration together, we continue to strengthen our relationships with global partners.”