The Commission said each of the six can ask the EU Council for relief from the solidarity pool. Any exemption would require a qualified-majority vote by member states and would last one year.
The pact lets countries show solidarity in three ways: relocating migrants, making financial contributions or providing operational support.
Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner called the system flexible, saying member states “can also choose alternative measures to relocation,” meaning “relocation is not binding.”
Asked about Poland, Brunner said Warsaw faces a serious migration challenge after admitting large numbers of people under temporary protection from Ukraine.
Under Tuesday’s decision, Poland may seek a full or partial opt-out from the solidarity pool, subject to Council approval.
The Commission also launched the first annual migration management cycle, a key step toward implementing the pact, which is due to apply fully from June 2026. The cycle aims to coordinate EU policy and prepare a yearly solidarity pool to assist member states under strain.
Alongside the cycle, the Commission published the first European Annual Report on Asylum and Migration, covering July 2024 to June 2025. It said the EU migration situation has improved, with irregular border crossings down 35%, which the Commission linked to deeper cooperation with partner countries.
Challenges persist, including unauthorized movements within the EU, continued support for refugees from Ukraine, and what officials described as the instrumentalization of migration by Russia and Belarus at the bloc’s external borders. Returns and readmissions also remain difficult.
Based on its assessment, the Commission said Greece and Cyprus remain under particular pressure due to above-average arrivals, while Spain and Italy also face high numbers, especially after sea search-and-rescue operations.
These four would be able to draw on the future solidarity pool once the pact takes effect. Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Finland were deemed at risk of pressure due to high arrivals or the potential weaponization of migration.
Citing rising hybrid threats and more frequent drone incidents at borders, the Commission announced a EUR 250 million tender to purchase equipment to detect and neutralize drones.
The proposal now goes to the EU Council, which will decide on adoption, set the pool’s size and define each state’s “fair share.” Once adopted, national solidarity contributions will be public and legally binding. The Commission said it will reassess migration pressures annually to balance challenges and obligations across the bloc.
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Source: PAP