Commission launches second Annual Migration Management Cycle under the Pact on Migration and Asylum

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the European Commission is launching the second Annual Migration Management Cycle, delivering on a core component of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It builds on the successful implementation of the first Annual Migration Management Cycle and the strong results of the EU’s work on migration: substantially decreased illegal migration, stronger cooperation between Member States and effective partnerships with third countries. The Annual Migration Management Cycle is grounded in the fair balance between responsibility and solidarity of the Pact.

The Annual Cycle includes a yearly overview of the asylum and migration situation in the EU, a decision assessing and determining the migratory situations in each Member State, and a proposal for an Annual Solidarity Pool for the coming year to be adopted by the Council. The Commission’s assessment is evidence-based and draws from data and information provided by national authorities and EU Agencies, taking Member States’ situations and needs into account.

Second European Annual Asylum and Migration Report

The migratory situation in the EU has continued to improve significantly, confirming that the EU’s new approach on migration, with a new legal framework, strong border protection and an assertive migration diplomacy is delivering substantial and consistent positive results. Illegal border crossings more than halved over the past two years, with another drop by more than a third in the first six months of this year. Unauthorised movements (-22% in 2025) and asylum applications (-19% in 2025) also decreased significantly, while the EU-wide return rate has now increased to over 30%.

The report also covers the significant progress Member States made in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which has been fully in application since last June: the new Eurodac system is operational in all Member States; Member States are putting the new screening and border procedures to use, with one third of all registered asylum applications processed under accelerated or border procedures since the Pact entered into application; and the implementation of the first Solidarity Pool for 2026 is on track.

At the same time, continuous work is needed to ensure all components of the Pact are fully operational, notably as regards the responsibility obligations of Member States. Member States have made significant progress to ensure the full application of the new rules, although further efforts are needed to address remaining challenges.

Commission decision determining levels of migratory pressure

Based on the findings in the Annual Report, and using the quantitative and qualitative criteria set out in the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation, the Commission determines that:

Greece and Cyprus are under migratory pressure due to the disproportionate level of arrivals over the past year. Italy is also under migratory pressure because of a disproportionate number of arrivals following search and rescue at sea. Furthermore, taking into account the overall migratory situation and in particular the incident in Ceuta, Spain is also under migratory pressure. These four Member States will therefore be eligible to access the Solidarity Pool, subject to the continued application of the responsibility rules. The Commission also finds that, while Italy has made progress in applying the rules on responsibility, more progress remains necessary and will be closely monitored.

Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Finland are at risk of migratory pressure. This is either because of a relatively high number of illegal arrivals, unauthorised secondary movements, asylum applications or temporary protection granted to persons fleeing the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine or the risk of weaponisation of migration that could create disproportionate obligations in the coming year. These Member States will have priority access to the Permanent EU Migration Support Toolbox, and their situation will be monitored and reevaluated in an expedited manner, if necessary.

Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Croatia, Austria and Poland face a significant migratory situation because of the cumulative effect of migration over the last five years. They will be able to request the Council to grant a full or partial deduction from their contributions to the Solidarity Pool for the upcoming year.

Proposal for a Solidarity Pool

The Commission is also proposing today to the Council to establish the Solidarity Pool for 2027, to address the needs of Member States under migratory pressure. In line with the rules of the Pact, this proposal is not public.

It is now for the Council to agree on the size of the Solidarity Pool and how each Member State will contribute. Member States will have flexibility to choose how to contribute: through people solidarity (relocation or responsibility offsets), financial support, alternative measures or a combination of these measures.

Once the Council adopts the decision on the Solidarity Pool, Member States’ solidarity contributions will be public and legally binding.

Background

As set out in the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation, each year, the Commission assesses the overall migratory situation in the EU and in all Member States. This ensures that the permanent solidarity mechanism established by the Pact on Migration and Asylum balances the challenges and the responsibilities placed on Member States.

This assessment, presented in the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report, is based on information provided by Member States, the statistical department of the EU (Eurostat), EU agencies and the European External Action Service. The evidence gathered in the Report provides the basis for determining the migratory situation in Member States and in the Union as whole and informs the proposal for the annual Solidarity Pool to address this situation.

The Annual Report also includes the fourth state of play on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

For more information

Questions and answers on the Second Annual Migration Management Cycle

Second Annual Migration Management Cycle

Questions and answers on the Pact on Migration and Asylum