EU Migration Pact overhauling asylum system now in effect

The EU Migration Pact comes into force today, two years after it was adopted by member states and the European Parliament.

The pact overhauls existing EU rules to bring about what officials describe as a more efficient, streamlined system that will mean a departure from years of toxic politics around the issue.

However, the pact has been criticised by both the far-right, for not going far enough, and by refugee organisations, who said its legal safeguards for those seeking protection are not sufficient.

The Migration Pact follows years of torturous negotiations over how to manage the asylum system at EU level.

The migration crisis of 2015, when over a million people sought protection in Europe from the Syrian civil war and other regional conflicts, put the existing legal system under enormous strain and arguably led to the rise of far-right parties in the most affected member states.

An attempted overhaul was stalled in 2018, but two years later, a newly formed European Commission launched a more ambitious effort, eager to show that the EU could get to grips with the toxic migration issue.

In essence, the pact is designed to have more efficient and faster procedures at the EU's external borders, more robust and swifter asylum and return procedures, a compulsory "solidarity mechanism" between member states to share the management of asylum seekers, and enhanced cooperation with third countries to address root causes, combat smuggling, and provide legal pathways for migration.

But there are many critics.

Member states have had two years to implement the ten pieces of legislation that make up the pact, and that period is up today.

The International Protection Act, the Irish legislation required for the pact to take effect, also comes into force today.

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Welcoming the implementation of the act, Minister for Justice and Migration Jim O'Callaghan said it marked an important milestone.

"I have been very clear since taking office that Ireland must have a rules-based immigration system. Today, the commencement of the International Protection Act 2026 marks an important milestone in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the asylum process, and further building public confidence in the system.

"This historic reform recognises that migration is a challenge not just at a national level but at a European level.

"Agreeing migration and asylum policy at an EU level means coordinated actions including sharing of information, reducing the number of people applying for protection in numerous EU countries and reviving the return of applicants to the first country they applied in."