The European Commission has warned that significant gaps remain across the bloc just weeks before the Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into full application on 12 June 2026.
In a state of play report published on 8 May, Brussels acknowledged that European Union countries had made considerable progress but said that urgent work was still needed on Eurodac, border procedures, and fundamental rights safeguards.
The third update, contained in Communication COM(2026) 196 final, was sent to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
It follows earlier reports adopted in June and November 2025.
The Pact, adopted in May 2024, overhauls Europe’s migration framework through 10 interlinked legislative acts. Member States have had a two-year transition window to prepare. That window closes next month.
Eurodac faces tight deadlines
The new Eurodac biometric database sits at the heart of the system.
As of mid-April, 11 Member States reported being fully on track to start operations in June, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Malta, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Sixteen others face challenges but expect to resolve them in time. Eleven countries are relying on a centralised fallback solution developed by eu-LISA after delays in national procurement.
Compliance testing is uneven. Nineteen Member States had completed their checks by 24 April, but nine had yet to start business process testing.
Those still lagging include Croatia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia.
The eu-LISA central system is ready and has been integrated with the Common Identity Repository, the European Search Portal and the shared Biometric Matching Service.
This integration will allow the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to draw on Eurodac data once it goes live by the end of 2026.
Border procedures lag behind
Fifteen Member States now have, or are about to have, adequate capacity for border procedures.
Eleven others, including Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia, must urgently step up efforts.
By 4 May, only 17 countries had notified the Commission of the locations where border procedures would be carried out. The legal deadline was mid-April.
Screening pilots have already taken place on Lampedusa, in Sicily, at Lisbon airport and along Romania’s land border.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and Frontex have distributed a screening toolbox, including an operational checklist for medical practitioners.
National legislation is also behind schedule in many places. Only five Member States, Czechia, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland and Slovakia, have adopted most of the relevant national laws.
At least 11 others have draft legislation still in parliamentary procedure.
Solidarity pool takes shape
The Council established the first Annual Solidarity Pool on 19 December 2025 through Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2642. It sets a reference number of 21,000 relocations or €420 million in financial contributions.
Every Member State pledged a contribution except Hungary and Slovakia. The Commission has identified Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain as countries under migratory pressure, with several others at risk or facing a significant migratory situation.
The EU Solidarity Coordinator is preparing the operationalisation of the pool. A Technical-Level EU Solidarity Forum will convene after the Pact starts applying in June.
Funding, outside support
The Commission has made €3 billion available to support implementation and to cover temporary protection for Ukrainians.
Strategic programming has been completed for 26 Member States, with Hungary the only country yet to request its allocation.
Most programme amendments were adopted by April 2026. The Commission and Member States will review overall performance in the second half of the year.
Eight countries, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovakia, are receiving help through the Technical Support Instrument.
They are cooperating with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the International Organization for Migration.
Safeguards still incomplete
Most Member States are close to finalising free legal counselling arrangements for the administrative stage of asylum procedures. Six countries, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia and Italy, have yet to define them.
Four countries, Belgium, Hungary, Italy and Malta, have not concluded arrangements for the independent mechanism monitoring fundamental rights in border procedures.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has developed a practical monitoring tool and run awareness workshops in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.
The EUAA adopted a Practical Guide on the Best Interests of the Child in March 2026. It also published a Report on Age Assessment Practices the same month.
Returns, migration diplomacy
Illegal border crossings at the EU’s external borders fell by 26% in 2025 compared with 2024, reaching the lowest level since 2021.
The Commission attributed this to policy changes, growing alignment among Member States and stronger cooperation with partner countries.
Twenty-two Member States now have IT systems for managing return cases, using the RECAMAS model developed by Frontex. The agency supported almost half of all returns from the Union in 2025.
The EU-Nigeria Readmission Agreement was recently initialled. Negotiations continue on a proposed Return Regulation, which the Commission describes as the missing piece of the Pact.
Resettlement, talent push
The Council adopted the first Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Plan for 2026 to 2027 on 18 December 2025. It provides 10,430 safe and legal pathways based on voluntary pledges from nine Member States.
Brussels also launched the Talent for Innovation Attraction Platform in March 2026. The Visa Strategy and a Recommendation for Attracting Talent for Innovation were adopted in January.
Cyprus has joined the group of Member States with a wider integration strategy. Only Hungary and Romania still lack one, while Italy is updating its National Integration Plan.
Work continues beyond June
The Commission stressed that 12 June is not the end of the process. Sustained efforts will need to continue well beyond June to operationalise the new system.
The second Annual Migration Cycle will launch in October 2026. The Commission will assess in July and again in October whether systemic shortcomings persist in how Member States apply the new transfer rules.
Brussels also confirmed it will take the necessary measures to ensure all Member States respect their obligations under the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation.
The solidarity mechanism, it noted, is indispensable for the Pact to function.