After years of negotiations, the European Union (EU) has finally agreed to change the bloc’s asylum and migration system fundamentally.
The agreement aims to implement stronger border controls while also ensuring all EU countries share responsibility for handling asylum requests fairly.
Parliament and Member Greenlight New Pact
On February 8th, 2024, representatives from EU member states approved a provisional agreement on new migration and asylum rules reached with the European Parliament last December.
“The member states today confirmed their commitment to improve the European asylum and migration system,” said Nicole de Moor, Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration.
“These new rules will make the European asylum system more effective and increase solidarity between member states,” she added.
The pact includes five key regulations for dealing with different aspects of handling asylum seekers and irregular migration into the EU.
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Entry Screening: Improving identity checks on people entering external borders to determine appropriate procedures for them.
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Eurodac Update: Enhancing the EU fingerprint database to better monitor movements of irregular migrants and asylum applicants inside Europe.
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Asylum Procedures Regulation: Making standard EU rules to process asylum claims faster.
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Asylum and Migration Management Regulation: Creating a system to relocate asylum seekers and support member states facing high migration pressures, replacing the Dublin regulation.
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Crisis Regulation: Allowing emergency changes of certain procedures during crises, plus EU support measures.
New Laws Target “Asylum Shopping”
A major goal of the reforms is to discourage “asylum shopping,” where asylum seekers file claims in multiple EU states. The updated Eurodac regulation will help identify these moves around Europe.
The future system also intends to allocate responsibility for claims more evenly among member states.
Currently, a handful of countries like Germany, France, and Belgium handle most applications.
The solidarity mechanism will provide required assistance through relocations or financial contributions.
Tougher Border Screening and Entry Procedures
The screening regulation requires border officials to identify all irregular arrivals through interviews, document checks, and the collection of biometric data like fingerprints.
Asylum applications can then be handled right at the borders where people enter the EU.
This level of screening aims to catch risks and prevent unauthorized travel deeper into Europe.
Common Asylum Standards for Greater Efficiency
The Asylum Procedures Regulation establishes the same procedural rules so that all EU countries assess claims using consistent methods.
This aims to reduce differences in recognition rates and waiting times across Europe. Applicants also gain standardized rights, including legal assistance.
New Resettlement Program to Offer Legal Pathways
As part of the broader reform package, the EU will also launch a centralized resettlement program to bring displaced people from conflict regions straight to Europe through safe and legal channels.
The EU aims to resettle around 30,000 recognized refugees every year.
Implications for Visitors of the EU
The new migration and asylum rules don’t directly change policies for short-term visitors under the Schengen Area. However, the reforms aim to improve security measures and information sharing across the EU.
Travelers may notice tighter checks at external border crossings when the screening regulation takes effect.
In mid-2025, the EU plans to introduce the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which requires pre-approval for visa-exempt visitors from over 60 countries.
While not a visa itself, the upcoming ETIAS will add another layer of screening to enforce rules consistently across Schengen members.
The data gathered could also assist in the asylum process where applicable.
Potential Impacts on Immigration Procedures
For non-EU families, workers, students, and other long-stay immigrants, the implications of the agreement mostly relate to securing residence permits once they arrive.
If implemented as planned, the standardized asylum procedures and responsibility-sharing rules aim to accelerate decisions for those seeking refugee status or subsidiary protection in the EU.
The reforms don’t directly change other channels like family, study, or work visas.
However, if certain countries grow overloaded with processing asylum claims despite the new solidarity system, it could end up slowing down their general immigration application procedures as well.
The long-term success of the policy changes will depend on strong cooperation between member states.
What’s Next for the Asylum Reform
The European Parliament and European Council must now formally approve the agreement text reached in 2023 before the new asylum system can begin. This is expected by April 2024.
However, full implementation across all EU states will still take considerable time and coordination.
New Dawn for Migration Policy
After multiple failed attempts recently to overhaul asylum rules, the EU finally has within reach a sweeping reform covering all facets of handling migrant arrivals and asylum seekers.
If EU countries deliver on solidarity pledges, the new system should ease pressures on borders, accelerate decisions on claims, discourage asylum shopping, and offer more legal pathways to protection.