The European Council announced on May 14th, 2024 its adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. [3] The pact is a set of new rules managing migration and establishing a common asylum system at the EU level. The Pact includes four major pillars: 

1. Robust screening: Those not fulfilling the conditions to enter the EU will be registered and subject to identification, security, and health checks.
2. Eurodac asylum and migration database: The Eurodac Regulation turns the existing database into a fully-fledged asylum and migration database, ensuring clear identification of everyone who enters the EU as an asylum seeker or an irregular migrant.
3. Border procedure and returns: A mandatory border procedure will apply for asylum applicants who are unlikely to need protection, mislead the authorities or present a security risk. Efficient returns with reintegration support will apply for those not eligible for international protection.
4. Crisis protocols and action against instrumentalisation: The Crisis Regulation provides quick crisis protocols, with operational support and funding, in emergency situations.

The Pact also includes a solidarity mechanism for the EU to share the responsibility of the migrant crisis - either utilizing relocations, financial contributions from member states,, or other potential tools. Hungary and Poland have been vocal critics of the reforms under the belief that this new pact will fine Poland and Hungary if it does not settle migrants from Africa and the Middle East - already a major issue in Hungary and Poland, whose leaders largely enact anti-immigration policies.

Critics against the new reforms believe that the Pact may worsen human rights violations and increase detentions and fast-tracked deportations. Swedish NGO “Civil Rights Defenders” published [4] its criticisms in April and believe that the Pact will “undermine the right to asylum, increase the number of children and adults in detention, and increase the use of substandard asylum processes.”