The reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which was the subject of long negotiations among European Union member states, officially comes into force today, marking a significant shift in the bloc’s migration policy.
The new rules aim to introduce more efficient and faster procedures at the EU’s external borders, with the goal of reducing the movement of asylum seekers from one member state to another, for example from Greece or Italy to Germany.
Under the reform, border procedures will allow for accelerated processing of asylum applications and more efficient enforcement of deportation decisions. Individuals with low chances of receiving a positive asylum decision will be subject to an expedited procedure that can last up to 12 weeks. During this period, they may be accommodated in special reception centers located mainly in EU border countries.
One of the key objectives of the new system is to prevent so-called “secondary migration,” where asylum seekers, after being registered in one member state, move independently to another EU country.
At the same time, the reform introduces a new solidarity mechanism aimed at ensuring a fair distribution of responsibility among member states. It includes financial contributions, material support, or the relocation of asylum seekers from countries located at the EU’s external borders.
According to the agreed rules, Germany is not required to contribute to the solidarity fund for the current year, as the large number of asylum seekers it has already received—who were initially allocated to other countries—is counted as fulfilling its obligations under the system.
With the entry into force of the CEAS, the European Union is entering a new phase in migration management, with an emphasis on faster procedures, stronger border control, and a clearer distribution of responsibilities among member states.
