After years of difficult negotiations, the Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force last Friday, introducing a unified framework of rules for managing migration flows at EU level. The regulatory framework is becoming stricter, with the return of those who have no right to remain on EU territory placed at the centre, while provision is also made for the possibility of transferring them to return hubs located in third countries.
Speaking to Phileleftheros, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner explains that this represents a major reform. “The Pact establishes fair and efficient asylum procedures, whilst ensuring a balance between solidarity and responsibility between Member States. Also, with the agreement on new rules for return, Member States are better equipped to return people with no right to stay,” he says.
For frontline states such as Cyprus, which in recent years has faced particularly acute migratory pressure relative to its size, the effective management of migration flows is a priority. According to the Commissioner, the Pact on Migration and Asylum is precisely why it matters so much for the country. “The new system ensures a better balance between solidarity and responsibility, meaning no Member State is left alone to deal with migratory pressure,” he stresses.
Nicosia did not observe the drafting of the new rules from the sidelines. As a frontline state and as holder of the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2026, Cyprus played an active role in the discussions, placing particular emphasis on the need for more effective returns, stronger external border protection, and more meaningful European solidarity.
What changes in EU migration policy will the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum bring?
We are in the middle of our big migration reform. And the Pact on Migration and Asylum is an important part of this. Step by step, we are putting our European house in order. The Pact strengthens our external borders, through the Entry/Exit System and the screening and border procedures. It establishes fair and firm asylum procedures that are more efficient and ensures a balance between solidarity and responsibility between Member States. Also, with the agreement on new rules for return, Member States are better equipped to return people with no right to stay. And we remain true to our values and protect people’s rights. Not everything will be perfect on day one, but the foundations are in place. We have come very far and it is good to see the commitment in Member States to get this done. All Member States want to make this work, and it is in the Member States’ interest that the system works.
How will these changes affect frontline Member States such as Cyprus?
With our comprehensive approach on migration, we are stepping up an assertive migration diplomacy. We need to put our tools to use – including trade, investment, visa and funding – to work more effectively with partner countries and reduce illegal migration. At the same time, the new system ensures a better balance between solidarity and responsibility, meaning no Member State is left alone to deal with migratory pressure. Cyprus, which has been identified this year as a country under migratory pressure, will already benefit from the Annual Solidarity Pool. In addition, asylum procedures will become faster and more efficient. The new border procedure will allow to process swiftly at the border applications that are unlikely to result in protection, pose security concerns, or involve attempts to mislead authorities, followed by swift return. Finally, the new Return Regulation will equip Cyprus with stronger and clearer tools to ensure more effective returns, with simpler and faster procedures for those who have no right to stay in the EU.
What do you see as the biggest challenges and difficulties in implementing the Pact?
We have come very far and it is good to see the commitment in Member States to get this done. This is the result of the team spirit the EU has developed on migration. Member States want to make this work, and it is in the Member States’ interest that the system works, to curb illegal migration and the criminal business of smugglers, while protecting those in real need. And we can be very confident: the foundations for the system to work are in place.
Have Member States made the necessary changes to be ready to implement the Pact? Will they be able to apply the new border procedures from day one?
Member States have already taken significant steps to get ready for the new system, and we are confident that they will be able to apply the new procedures. We are seeing real progress on the ground. Our report from May shows that, while some challenges remain, most Member States have adopted national laws and built up the infrastructure needed to implement the new procedures. Eurodac, the digital backbone of the new asylum rules, is being tested across the Member States to ensure that the system can work. And I know that things have advanced since our report in May.
You were in Cyprus for the informal meeting on migration. Where does Cyprus stand in terms of readiness for implementing the Pact? Do you have any recommendations for Nicosia?
Cyprus has made strong progress and is well prepared for the implementation of the Pact, building on its active role during its EU Council Presidency. It has adopted its national Refugee Law following EU requirements and is ready for the new Eurodac system, having completed the necessary technical tests. Good progress has also been made on screening, border procedures, and reception capacity, with facilities and staffing close to finalisation. Cyprus is also strengthening return procedures with support from Frontex and has adopted a new integration strategy. And here I want to recall that June 12 is not the end of the process, but the start of a new phase of implementation. And Cyprus is on the right track.
How will returns be carried out for those who are not entitled to asylum when there is no cooperation or readmission agreement with their countries of origin?
This is exactly why we needed the new rules on return: to ensure protection for those who need it and to prevent abuse of the system. The Cypriot Presidency was instrumental in reaching agreement on providing Member States with stronger tools. The new rules agreed last week give to Member States new tools to return those with no right to stay. This includes the obligation of the irregular migrant to cooperate, stronger measures to avoid that people run away, as well as new and innovative solutions, like return hubs, which Member States are exploring. In cases where cooperation with countries of origin is not satisfactory, we will invest in migration diplomacy. This means working with third countries to ensure that they meet their international obligations. To do this, we are ready to use the full range of EU policies and tools, from visa policy to trade and financial support. With the Pact, we also updated the safe third country concept, which allows Member States to declare an asylum application inadmissible and transfer the person to a third country where they have access to effective protection, in line with international and European law.
Eurodac’s central role
The new Eurodac system is set to play a central role. Could you explain how it will function and what purpose it will serve?
The new Eurodac system will be a central tool in how we manage migration and asylum in the European Union. Under the new rules, the current Eurodac system is being expanded as the EU’s identification database. This will allow national authorities to better tackle illegal migration, track secondary movements within the EU, and speed up asylum procedures. In practice, this means that everyone who arrives illegally at our external borders, or who applies for asylum in an EU country, will have their data recorded in Eurodac. In this way, the competent authorities will have more reliable and comprehensive data for managing migration flows and implementing the new rules of the Pact.
In many Member States, the rise of far-right parties is closely linked to migration. Can the new Pact help reduce political tensions surrounding this issue?
Our new comprehensive approach to Migration and Asylum is not about left or right-wing politics. It is about putting in place a system that works: a fair and firm system that restores people’s trust in our ability to manage migration. We are already seeing good signs. Illegal border crossings have dropped by 55% in the last two years and by another 40% this year. The first solidarity cycle shows that Member States are willing to support each other. This shows that a balanced and shared approach is not only a theoretic concept, but it is already happening.
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