Migration and asylum: Member states agree on solidarity pool
Today, the Council reached a political agreement on the establishment of the annual solidarity pool for 2026. The solidarity pool is one of the main elements of the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum and provides effective support to those member states that are under migratory pressure.
The Pact, when it starts applying from 12 June 2026, will make the European asylum system more effective. On the one hand, the Pact contains clear rules on responsibility for processing asylum applications. On the other hand, it aims at reducing illegal entry and provides for solidarity measures between member states to relieve the burden on those countries where most migrants arrive. In the long term, the Pact will help to reduce migration pressure on all member states.
Solidarity needs for 2026
The solidarity needs for 2026 reflect the fact that the first annual migration management cycle will start being implemented as of 12 June 2026. The reference number for the solidarity pool 2026 is 21.000 relocations or other solidarity efforts or EUR 420 million financial contributions.
Contributions
During the meetings of the High-Level Solidarity Forum (which took place on 18 and 27 November 2025) member states pledged their solidarity contributions. There are three types of solidarity measures: relocations, financial contributions and alternative solidarity measures. It is for each member state to decide which type of solidarity measure it pledges, including the possibility to pledge a combination of different measures.
Beneficiaries of solidarity
Based on the assessment of quantitative and qualitative criteria set out in the Pact, the European Commission has concluded that Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain are under migratory pressure. These countries can benefit from the solidarity measures of the solidarity pool.
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia and Poland have been identified as facing a significant migratory situation due to the cumulative migratory pressure of the previous years. They have the possibility to request a full or partial deduction from their contributions to the solidarity pool.
A group of countries considered to be at risk of migratory pressure will have priority access to the EU Migration Support Toolbox which includes assistance by EU agencies and support from EU funds.
Next steps
After today’s political agreement on the solidarity pool, the Council will still have to formally adopt the implementing decision. This will happen after legal scrubbing and translation before 31 December 2025.
Background
The solidarity mechanism was established by the asylum and migration management regulation which is one of the key pieces of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Pact will enter into application on 12 June 2026.
The Pact consists of in total 10 EU laws that touch on all stages of asylum and migration management ranging from screening irregular migrants when they arrive at the EU border to determining which member state is responsible for handling an asylum application and cooperation and solidarity between member states.
On 11 November 2025 the European Commission presented the first annual asylum and migration report (which is another deliverable of the Pact). It provides a comprehensive picture of the state of asylum, migration and reception systems in the EU and forms the basis for determining the migratory situation in member states.
