Last Thursday, the European Commission adopted a first assessment of the current implementation of the new responsibility rules set out in the framework of the Migration and Asylum Pact, which covers the first three weeks since the Pact came into effect on June 12, 2026.
The assessment provides an initial view of how the member states identified as under migratory pressure and benefiting from solidarity under the first annual migration management cycle apply the new EU responsibility rules. “This assessment,” the Commission points out, “shows that member states have made considerable progress in implementing the Pact, also regarding their capacity to process responsibility transfers.
In Cyprus and Spain, the operational cooperation regarding the implementation of the responsibility rules can be considered adequate. The measures that Greece has adopted to date indicate that it has begun to correct previous practices, demonstrating its willingness to ensure the effective implementation of the responsibility rules. The measures adopted by Italy also reflect a significant effort in preparing for the implementation of the new rules, although concrete measures will be necessary to ensure that transfers are carried out effectively,” they state.
The Commission continues to emphasize that “since the new responsibility rules have been in effect for less than a month, the results of this initial assessment should be considered preliminary. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation based on the information provided by the member states in view of the next assessment in October. The Commission will continue to work closely with all member states to support the implementation of the Pact.”
The Migration and Asylum Pact came into effect on June 12, 2026, creating a fair and robust legal framework that balances solidarity and responsibility among member states. The Pact establishes that the Commission will assess the implementation of the new responsibility rules one month after the Pact comes into effect and again in October 2026.
