EU migration and refugee pact takes effect, reshaping member-state responsibilities

On 12 June 2026 the European Union’s new migration and refugee pact entered into force. The agreement establishes common asylum procedures, tighter border controls and a solidarity mechanism that obliges all 27 member states to share the costs of receiving migrants – either by taking in relocated asylum seekers, making financial contributions or providing operational assistance.

Poland has been granted a temporary exemption from the relocation requirement, while Hungary is warned that significant new burdens could fall on its system. The pact also expands Frontex’s role and deepens cooperation with the Western Balkans to curb illegal crossings. Early data show a decline in illicit migration, but officials caution that instability in the Middle East could create fresh pressure.

The legislation aims to distribute migration pressure more evenly across the Union, replacing the previous “Dublin” rule that placed responsibility on the first‑entry country.