The European Union has adopted a new pact on migration and asylum, which should reform the relevant laws in the bloc's member states. Find out what rules the document envisages and when they will become operational

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The Council of the European Union has approved a new pact on migration and asylum. Brussels considers the document a "landmark reform" of the European migration system. Here's how it will regulate migration.

What do they say about the pact in the EU?

According to Nicole de Maure, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration of Belgium, which holds the EU Council Presidency, the Asylum and Migration Pact will ensure a fairer and more reliable migration system that will lead to concrete changes on the ground.

"These new rules will make the European asylum system more efficient and increase solidarity between member states," she said.

The European Union, de Moer said, will continue to work closely with third countries to address the root causes of irregular migration.

What is the document about?

The new pact establishes a set of rules that will help manage the arrival of migrants and refugees in an orderly manner, create effective and uniform procedures and ensure a fair distribution of the migration burden among member states.

On Tuesday, the EU Council adopted a total of 10 pieces of legislation reforming the entire European asylum and migration management system.

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What are they about?

The vetting regulation will allow national authorities to refer irregular migrants and asylum seekers at the external border to the appropriate procedure, and ensure that identification, security and vulnerability checks, and health assessments are carried out in a uniform manner.

The new rules on the updated Eurodac database will allow for the collection of more accurate and complete data (including biometric data) on different categories of migrants, including international protection applicants and people entering the EU illegally. This will help shape policy and strengthen control over irregular migration and unauthorised movements.

The Asylum Procedure Regulation streamlines the European asylum procedure and introduces a mandatory border procedure in certain cases.

The Border Return Procedure Regulation deals with the return of persons whose applications under this border procedure have been rejected.

The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation defines which Member State is responsible for processing applications for international protection and introduces for the first time a fair division of responsibility between Member States. Thanks to the crisis regulation, the EU will be better prepared to deal with asylum applications in exceptional circumstances.   

The Qualification Regulation and the Reception Conditions Directive establish common rules for the criteria for granting international protection and standards for the reception of asylum seekers. This should also help to reduce secondary movements between EU member states.

The Resettlement Regulation addresses legal and safe routes to the EU by establishing common rules for resettlement and humanitarian reception.

When will the new rules come into force?

EU member states will now have two years to implement the laws adopted by the Council. The European Commission will soon present a general implementation plan to assist member states in this process.

If you are interested in the issue of migration and face any obstacles or difficulties, we recommend that you entrust this matter to professionals - Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you with the collection of documents and provide advice using an individual approach. You can get acquainted with the consultation packages here.

We remind you! Recently, many refugees from Ukraine have been experiencing difficulties in crossing the border and living in the EU. This is especially true for those who have a "dočasne útočisko" document. Read more about the problem here.

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Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can get legal advice on migration law. Our lawyers will answer all your questions and, if necessary, help you collect, submit and receive the documents you need. You can order a specialist consultation or full legal support by following this link.