EU tightens rules for migrants / New Pact on Asylum and Migration: Here's when implementation begins

The new European Pact on Migration and Asylum will gradually come into force on June 12, bringing significant changes to the way the European Union manages the arrival of migrants and refugees.

The new framework aims to strengthen controls at the EU's external borders, speed up asylum procedures, and create a more coordinated system among member states.

The two main pillars of the pact are the mandatory screening of all individuals who enter the European Union irregularly and the faster processing of asylum applications through border procedures with clearly defined deadlines.

The Greek government considers the pact a stronger and more effective response to migration challenges. Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, has stated that the new framework is an essential tool for protecting European borders and strengthening return procedures for those who do not qualify for international protection.

He also warned that if migration pressure continues to increase, Greek authorities are prepared to take even tougher measures. Referring to the rise in arrivals on the island of Crete, where around 600 migrants were recorded in a single day, Thanos Plevris stated that the government would not allow a repeat of situations similar to the 2015 migration crisis.

One of the most important elements of the pact is mandatory pre-entry screening at the borders. All migrants and refugees entering irregularly will undergo identity verification, health checks, security assessments, and biometric data collection before being officially registered within European territory.

A key role will be played by the new Eurodac system, which is being significantly expanded. The system will enable broader collection of biometric data and more accurate monitoring of migrants' movements within the European Union.

Marios Kaleas, Director of the Greek Asylum Service and Chair of the Board of the European Union Agency for Asylum, believes that Greece is now in a stronger position than in previous years to implement the new mechanism.

According to him, the country has moved from a fragmented model of managing migration flows to a more organized system of reception, identification, and control. However, he acknowledges that full implementation of the mechanism requires additional staff, modern information systems, and close cooperation between national institutions and European agencies.

Another major change concerns asylum procedures. The pact aims to reduce the lengthy delays that have characterized the European asylum system for years. Applications considered clearly unfounded will be processed more quickly and concluded within 12 weeks.

In many cases, applicants will remain in controlled facilities near the borders until the process is completed. Those likely to qualify for asylum will be transferred to open reception facilities, while those who do not meet the criteria may remain in closed centers until their return is arranged.

Kaleas emphasizes that the philosophy of the new system is to eliminate uncertainty, both for migrants and for states facing heavy pressure at their borders. However, he stresses that speed should not come at the expense of the quality of decision-making.

“A functional asylum system must be fast, fair, and legally secure at the same time,” he said, adding that every application must continue to be examined individually and in accordance with international law.

The pact has also sparked debate at the European level. Human rights organizations have expressed concern that the shortened deadlines could lead to rushed or standardized rejections of asylum applications. On the other hand, European authorities argue that the current system has produced significant delays and undermined the credibility of asylum procedures.

The new Eurodac system also introduces major changes and is considered the digital backbone of the new European migration framework. Through it, the European Union aims to gain a clearer picture of who enters its territory, where they are registered, and how they subsequently move within member states.

However, the expansion of biometric data collection has raised privacy concerns. Authorities emphasize that access to this data will be limited and strictly controlled in accordance with European legislation on personal data protection.

Despite the reforms, the issue of burden-sharing among member states remains unresolved. According to Marios Kaleas, frontline countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta, and Cyprus will continue to face the greatest pressure because of their geographical location.

He stressed that the success of the pact will depend on the willingness of other European Union countries to contribute through migrant relocations, financial support, and operational assistance.

According to Kaleas, the new pact does not immediately solve all the problems of the European migration system, but it creates a more stable and predictable framework than the one that has existed until now, representing an important step toward a more coordinated European policy on migration and asylum.

“KORÇA BOOM”