The EU Asylum and Migration Pact enters into application
New EU migration rules become applicable today, 12 June, following the adoption by the EU of the Migration and Asylum Pact in 2024. Maltese MEPs say the Pact will support Malta, success will depend on delivery.
The Migration and Asylum Pact establishes a new framework for managing migration and asylum in the EU, including rules on screening, reception conditions, asylum procedures, responsibility and solidarity between member states, and crisis situations.
“The Migration and Asylum Pact is the EU’s answer to a longstanding security challenge that will equip Malta with the support we have been demanding for years,” said MEP David Casa, head of the Maltese delegation to the EPP group in the European Parliament. “While not a silver bullet to a complex issue, it is an effective and fair way forward to improve the asylum system in Europe and better secure our borders”.
“The entry into application of the Pact marks a significant step towards a more structured, predictable and fair EU migration system,” said MEP Alex Agius Saliba, head of the Maltese delegation to the S&D group in the European Parliament. “For Malta, it offers greater clarity, strengthened solidarity mechanisms, and recognition of the realities faced by frontline Member States. Its success, however, will depend on credible delivery - particularly on returns and a stronger external dimension - if we are to achieve tangible and sustainable reductions in irregular migration”.
The Pact consists of 10 legislative texts adopted by the European Parliament and Council as a comprehensive reform package of migration and asylum rules in June 2024, with two years for the entry into application. Nine of these new rules are Regulations which are directly applicable in the Member States, and one is a Directive that requires transposition by the national authorities. Further to these, the European Parliament has adopted in February this year regulations on the safe third country concept and the list of safe countries of origin.
The legislative work will continue next week in Strasbourg where the European Parliament plenary will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on the deal reached last week between Parliament and Council negotiators on changes to EU policy on the return of non-EU nationals staying illegally in the EU.
Complementing its legislative function, the EP is also scrutinising the application of the new rules through its Working Group on Asylum-Implementation of the Pact/CEAS, formed by MEPs of all EP political groups, and will continue to do so following the entry into application of the new rules in June and July this year, said lead MEPs addressing press briefings in Brussels before the entry into application of the Pact.
Immigration remains a top concern for Maltese citizens, with 29% of Maltese respondents in the Spring Eurobarometer conducted in March/April 2026 placing it as the second of the top two concerns facing the country, after rising prices and the cost of living (41%).
The Migration and Asylum Pact rules in brief:
Applicable from 12 June 2026:
The Asylum Procedures Regulation (2024/1348) introduces a new common procedure across the EU to grant and withdraw international protection, replacing the previous directive and national procedures. Accelerated examination procedures are to be concluded by the determining authority in three months from the date on which the application is lodged, and within six-months, renewable, for applications examined on their own merit. Faster border asylum procedures – which can last up to 12 weeks - can be applied at or in proximity to EU external border or transit zones. MEPs ensured that unaccompanied minors would not be subject to border procedures, unless they present a security risk, obtained guarantees that families with children would not be a priority for uptake into the border procedure, and should also be offered appropriate reception conditions. More here.
EP Rapporteur: Fabienne KELLER (France, Renew)
The Screening Regulation (2024/1356) introduces screening of third country nationals with checks at EU external borders and within EU territory for people entering the EU in an irregular manner. The checks include identification, collecting of biometric data, and a preliminary health and vulnerability assessment, as well as security checks, by accessing relevant databases. Under this regulation, the specific needs of children are to be taken into account and each member state is to have an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure respect of fundamental rights. More information here and here.
EP Rapporteur: Birgit Sippel (S&D, DE)
The objective of the Screening ECRIS-TCN Regulation (2024/1352) is to enable the screening authorities to access the data contained in ECRIS-TCN (the European Criminal Records Information System for third-country nationals) or in the CIR (the Common Identity Repository) for the purposes of identification or verification of identity and the security checks established by Regulation (EU) 2024/1356. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: Birgit Sippel (S&D, DE)
The Resettlement Framework Regulation (2024/1350) introduces the first-ever EU resettlement framework aiming to strengthen solidarity with countries hosting large number of displaced persons and reduce irregular migration. Member States participate in the scheme by offering resettlement on a voluntary basis. The first EU resettlement framework has already been established for 2026–2027. Participation by member states is voluntary, and the pledges made so far are relatively low. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: former MEP Malin Björk (The Left, Sweden)
The Eurodac Regulation (2024/1358) aims to more effective identify people arriving at the EU, with improved collection of data on asylum applicants and irregular migrants in EU territory through biometric data, adding facial images to existing fingerprinting databases, and additional information. Member State authorities will also include information on decisions to remove and return the person or relocate them. The age of permissible data collection on children has been lowered to 6 years of age, from the previous 14, and is to be handled by trained staff in a child-friendly manner. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: Jorge Buxadé Villalba (former ECR, now PfE, Spain)
The Reception Conditions Directive (2024/1346) enables registered asylum-applicants to start working sooner, maximum 6 months after requesting asylum instead of 9 months as previously, to improve their integration prospects. The directive ensures equivalent reception standards across EU member states in material conditions such as housing, health care, language and civic education courses, vocational training and an adequate standard of living for applicants. Member States are to ensure that unaccompanied minors are assigned a guardian and children should enter into the school system at the latest two months after arrival. More information here.
EP rapporteur: former MEP Sophie in 't Veld MEP (Renew, NL)
Applicable from the 1st of July:
The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (2024/1351) aims for solidarity with frontline countries, requiring all member states to contribute to helping EU countries recognised as being under migratory pressure. It establishes a solidarity pool, to which all EU countries will have to contribute with relocations or financial contributions. The new regulation sets the minimum threshold for relocations at 30,000 applicants and the financial contribution at €600 million. The agreed rules include additional criteria to determine which member state is responsible for processing the application for international protection (known as Dublin rules). To help determine the responsible country, family reunification cases will be prioritised and possible family links will be identified as quickly as possible. Additional criteria are: diplomas obtained in a member state, existing meaningful relations, and language knowledge. If no other criteria applies, the first member state of registration of the application for international protection would still be responsible for examining it. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: Tomas Tobé (EPP, SE)
The Qualification Regulation (2024/1347) sets out the criteria for granting and withdrawing international protection status. The new regulation aims to further harmonise the refugee status across the EU and increase legal certainty and transparency unifying the duration of residence permits granted for at least 3 years for refugee status and for at least 1 year for subsidiary protection. The beneficiaries of international protection have to reside in the member state which granted them international protection. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: Matjaž Nemec (S&D, SI)
The Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation (2024/1359) establishes a mechanism to respond to sudden increases in arrivals, ensuring solidarity and support for member states facing an exceptional influx of third-country nationals. To be considered a crisis, the situation must render the asylum, reception, child protection services, or the return system of a given member state non-functional. People arriving may be identified as entitled to prima facie protection, wherein authorities would have to prioritise the examination of their application, and ensure the swift conclusion of their application. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES)
The Border Return Procedure Regulation (2024/1349) applies to third-country nationals and stateless persons whose application has been rejected in the context of the asylum border procedure. More information here.
EP Rapporteur: Fabienne KELLER (France, Renew)
Useful links:
The Legislative Texts of the Migration Pact as published in the Official Journal of the EU
EP Plenary vote on the Migration Pact
Council of the European Union Migration page
EC Presentation of five-year strategy on migration
EPRS Briefing on the Implementation of the EU pact on migration and asylum