EU Migration Pact takes effect as countries wrestle with rollout

The EU Migration and Asylum Pact entered into force on 12 June 2026, two years after adoption, redefining asylum procedures and external‑border management across the bloc. Several member states are still unable to meet key obligations. Hungary remains the most conspicuous outlier, having voted against the legislation, refused to submit a national implementation plan, and declined participation in the solidarity pool. Southern front‑line states such as Italy, Greece and Cyprus face heavy migration pressure and have not yet fully implemented legal‑aid safeguards or independent monitoring mechanisms. Six countries – Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta and Sweden – have not designated bodies to monitor fundamental rights, while legal‑counselling arrangements are still pending in Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia and Italy.

The EU Migration Commissioner warned of a "crackdown" on non‑compliance, with fines of up to €21,000 per migrant that could rise to billions for defiant states. The pact also imposes mandatory migrant quotas and a solidarity funding mechanism.

In Italy, decree‑law No. 100 was published on 12 June 2026 to transpose the EU framework. It revises asylum application procedures, shortens the work‑restriction period for applicants to 90 days, expands the use of the Eurodac fingerprint database, and strengthens border‑control and administrative‑detention rules.