The EU Migration Pact officially came into force this Friday. As Euronews reports, MEPs had already approved the corresponding adjustments in April 2024. Now practical implementation begins in member states – but in many places it is not yet complete.
What the Pact Provides
The pact consists of ten separate legislative regulations. Core elements are a central registration system for asylum applications, clearer responsibilities, faster procedures, and a solidarity mechanism within the EU. The goal is to standardize and accelerate asylum procedures across the European Union.
Paulien Blondeel from the Belgian Immigration Office told VRT NWS: “For us, this means faster work in practice. And more work.” She acknowledged it was a massive undertaking but expressed confidence: “If all countries participate, after this difficult start-up phase we will have an efficiently functioning European system.”
Implementation Stalls in Many Countries
The Belgian chamber passed the bill implementing the pact on Thursday. Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and the Flemish Liberals voted in favor, while the opposition unanimously rejected it – the far-right party Vlaams Belang had filed 95 amendments, all of which were dismissed.
Despite two years of preparation, authorities in Belgium are not yet fully equipped. According to Euronews, no EU member state is truly finished with implementation. Transposition into national law is delayed, IT systems are not up to date, and recruitment and training of staff is in full swing, for example in Belgium.
In the long term, the pact aims to ensure more efficiency and solidarity – but the start-up phase will be a stress test for many authorities.
Source: de.euronews.com
