EU asylum reform launches new border procedures amid implementation doubts

On 12 June the European Union’s revised asylum system, known as the Common European Asylum System (GEAS), came into force. The new rules introduce mandatory registration of all asylum seekers at external borders, including photo ID and fingerprinting, and allow low‑prospects applicants to be detained and expelled directly from the border. A solidarity mechanism is intended to redistribute asylum seekers from overloaded frontier states to other member countries, but its effectiveness is uncertain.

Member states such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria must set up reception facilities at the borders, a requirement still hampered by staffing shortages and incomplete infrastructure. Greece’s migration minister announced new detention centres on Crete, yet experts warn that existing camps often fall short of EU standards, with limited medical, translation and legal support. Concerns are also raised about the willingness of countries like Hungary to participate in the solidarity scheme. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed optimism, while the EU Commission cautioned that the rollout will be a marathon, not a sprint, and that practical challenges will become apparent over time.