EU asylum reform enters into force, but several member states are not ready

At the heart of the reform is a new approach to handling arrivals at the EU's external frontier. Authorities must now check the identity of people at the external border within seven days and enter them into the Eurodac database, a system designed to prevent multiple asylum applications and onward travel within the bloc. "Behörden sollen ab sofort innerhalb von sieben Tagen die Identität von Personen an der EU-Außengrenze überprüfen und in die EU-Datenbank Eurodac eintragen, um Mehrfachasylanträge und Weiterreisen zu verhindern," the report said. Asylum claims must then be examined within three to six months, depending on country of origin, under detention-like conditions, or applicants are to be deported immediately.

Faster procedures and tighter checks

For people deemed unlikely to receive protection, an accelerated border procedure applies. It has a maximum duration of twelve weeks. "Besonders Menschen mit geringen Aussichten auf einen positiven Asylbescheid sollen ein solches beschleunigtes Verfahren ... durchlaufen," the report stated. During this period, applicants may be required to stay in special reception centres and not leave them.

The reform also creates a new solidarity mechanism to relieve member states that receive the most arrivals. "Gleichzeitig soll ein sogenannter Solidaritätsmechanismus die Lasten unter den EU-Ländern verteilen," the report said. Under its terms, member states can contribute through financial payments, in-kind support, or the relocation of asylum seekers. Around 21,000 relocations per year are currently planned across the EU. "Pro Jahr wären in der EU derzeit rund 21.000 sogenannte 'Relocations' von Schutzsuchenden vorgesehen, um Staaten an den Außengrenzen zu entlasten," the report added.

The solidarity mechanism and exemptions

Several large member states, however, have moved to exempt themselves from the obligation. Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic are not making full contributions. Germany in particular does not have to make financial contributions for the current year, because the country is credited with having taken in many asylum seekers who would otherwise have been the responsibility of other countries. "Deutschland muss dazu für das laufende Jahr keine Beiträge leisten ... da die Aufnahme vieler Asylbewerber angerechnet wird, für die eigentlich andere Länder zuständig gewesen wären," the report explained. Lithuania, meanwhile, has reduced its solidarity contribution to 58 asylum seekers.

Uneven preparedness across the EU

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner of the Austrian ÖVP acknowledged that readiness varies widely across the bloc. "Dass zum Stichtag nicht alle Staaten bereit sind, hat Brunner selbst eingeräumt," the report said. A European Commission report from May found that several states lag behind in building screening capacities at external borders, and there are shortages of personnel and equipment. Germany itself is lagging on the transition to the upgraded Eurodac database. Spain, the Commission said, is still far from being prepared for the new mechanisms, while Hungary has not yet taken any corresponding measures. Greece already has reception centres, though capacities are reportedly lacking, and there is a backlog of asylum cases in Athens even as illegal crossings in the Aegean decline. Many people in need of protection continue to arrive in Crete via Libya.

In Austria, an asylum terminal in Schwechat is under construction until 2027, and current facilities consist of containers for around 40 people. The report said several countries, including Austria and Greece, only adjusted their national laws shortly before the deadline, despite two years of preparation time. "Während die nationalen Gesetze in etlichen Staaten erst kurz vor Fristende angepasst wurden (Österreich, Griechenland)," the report noted. The main responsibility for asylum procedures remains with the first-entry country, and the reform is explicitly intended to address weaknesses in the Dublin system and relieve countries such as Greece and Italy.

Brunner framed the moment in broad political terms, saying the pact shows that "wir Ordnung in unser europäisches Haus bringen." His predecessor as commissioner, Ylva Johansson, warned in 2024, when the reform was adopted, that the asylum pact could fail if individual measures are not properly implemented. The package also includes plans for the EU to establish deportation centres in third countries, with Kenya, Senegal, Uganda and Uzbekistan mentioned as possible locations, and existing cooperation agreements with Tunisia, Egypt and potentially Afghanistan have drawn criticism from rights groups for overlooking human rights violations. The article was authored by Flora Mory of Der Standard, with contributions from Justė Ancevičiūtė (Delfi), Dimitris Angelidis (EfSyn), Catherine André (voxeurop), and Lola García-Ajofrín (El Confidencial), and dated 12 June 2026.