EU migration and asylum pact comes into force across all member states

The European Union’s new migration and asylum pact entered into force on 12 June 2026, binding all 27 member states to a unified set of rules. The agreement tightens control of the EU’s external borders, introduces a common system for returns, standardises asylum procedures and establishes a solidarity mechanism for the relocation of international protection seekers.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the pact as a European solution to migration, calling for “safer external borders, solidarity between member states and more efficient asylum and return procedures”. Early data show a 55 % drop in illegal border crossings compared with two years earlier. The pact has also sparked public debate in Italy, where commentators have discussed the concept of “remigration” in the context of the new rules.

The pact marks the first comprehensive EU-wide framework for migration and asylum, aiming to balance security, fairness and responsibility among members.