As of June 12, a new Pact on Migration and Asylum officially came into effect in the European Union. This is the largest reform of the EU's migration system in the last decade, changing the rules for processing asylum applications, strengthening border control, and introducing a new mechanism for distributing migrants among member states. This is reported by El Confidencial.
The new EU migration pact changes the rules for asylum seekers
One of the key innovations is accelerated border screening. From now on, the verification of individuals arriving in the EU without documents or through illegal routes must last no more than 12 weeks.
During this time, the competent authorities will determine whether a person has the right to international protection or should be returned to their country of origin.
Another important innovation is the mechanism of mandatory solidarity among EU states. Countries must either accept a determined number of asylum seekers or pay compensation of about 20,000 euros for each person they refuse to accept.
Why Spain and Poland opposed certain provisions
After the launch of the pact, differences between EU countries remained on certain reform provisions.
Spain supported the idea of financial assistance to states that first accept migrants, but opposed the creation of return centers outside the European Union. In Madrid, it is believed that such practice may contradict European standards of human rights protection.
Poland received a temporary exemption from the mechanism of mandatory distribution of migrants. Brussels took into account the burden associated with receiving millions of Ukrainian refugees and the crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border.
How new rules may impact Ukrainians
The new pact mainly concerns illegal migration and the asylum system. Ukrainians residing in the EU under temporary protection are not subject to its main mechanisms.
At the same time, the reform is launched against the backdrop of active discussions regarding the future of over four million Ukrainians in European Union countries. Among the possible changes, new rules for future applicants and a gradual transition from temporary protection to national residence permits are being discussed.
Moreover, the strengthening of the overall EU migration policy may influence member states’ approaches to monitoring the stay of foreigners and issuing new statuses for refugees in the future.
It should be noted that Ukrainians in Europe increasingly enroll in universities after the age of 35, not only to change professions but also to obtain a stable legal status after the end of temporary protection.