EU Pact on Migration and Asylum Enters Into Force as Border Filtering Starts

Overview

• The Pact formally came into application on June 12, 2026, and EU external borders began mandatory 'filtering' that records fingerprints, photos and identity documents and can last up to seven days.
• Certain asylum claims can now be processed at the border under accelerated procedures that may run for up to 12 weeks when applicants are from low‑grant or security‑concern countries.
• A binding solidarity mechanism requires states either to accept relocated asylum‑seekers or pay €20,000 per person with a 30,000 minimum annual relocation target and several countries have opted to pay instead of hosting.
• France issued adaptation decrees on June 7 but has not passed the full implementing law, leaving inconsistencies between national rules and the Pact that will increase administrative litigation and judicial interpretation.
• Human‑rights groups warn the Pact risks wider detention and criminalization, point to proposals for extraterritorial 'return hubs' in countries like Rwanda or Uganda, and note operational gaps such as Eurodac upgrades that are not yet fully operational.