EU Migration Pact Takes Effect, Raising Costs and Obligations for Hungary

On 12 June 2026 the European Union’s Migration and Asylum Pact entered into force, establishing a mandatory system for sharing asylum‑seeker responsibilities among member states. For Hungary, analysts note that the pact will require the construction and maintenance of facilities capable of accommodating over 7,700 asylum seekers, even if no migrants are present. The treaty also allows front‑line countries to request either the transfer of migrants or a daily financial contribution of €20,000 per person from other members.

Dócza Edith Krisztina of the Migration Research Institute warned that the new framework is likely to be far more costly than previous arrangements and its operation in a large‑scale migration crisis remains untested. She highlighted ongoing delays in EU legislation and the Eurodac biometric database, as well as expanding cooperation with the Western Balkans – Serbia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina and North Macedonia – to strengthen border protection. Regional pressures from Iran and Afghanistan could further increase migration flows, placing additional strain on the system.