Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Commission welcomes Ireland’s step to opt into seven legal actions under the Pact on Migration and Asylum, as reported on 27 June 2024.
Why Did the EU Welcome Ireland’s Opt-In?
President of EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the Pact would help safeguard people, secure our borders, ensure fair and efficient processes and manage migration in an orderly way with solidarity at its heart. Ireland’s determination to opt-in demonstrates its commitment to shared European values and its willingness to contribute to enhanced migration management across the EU.
Which Legislative Acts Has Ireland Opted Into?
The EU Commission adopted the Findings that confirm the participation of Ireland in seven legislative acts under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: Reception Conditions Directive; Qualification Regulation; Asylum Procedure Regulation; Union Resettlement Framework Regulation; Asylum and Migration Management Regulation; Eurodac Regulation and Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation.
How Much Financial Support Is Ireland Receiving?
The European Commission already financially backs Ireland in the area of migration management with €66.9 million to support managing migration for the period 2021 to 2027, of which €45.1 million arrives from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and €21.8 million from the Internal Security Fund (ISF). The AMIF subsidises the Member States in managing migration while grant under the ISF supports measures to protect the security of citizens and manage the EU’s external borders. Ireland will profit from additional operational, technical, and financial backing from the EU Commission and EU Agencies throughout the Pact implementation process.
What Are the Next Steps for Ireland’s Implementation?
In the next steps, the following decisions guaranteeing the participation of Ireland in the Asylum Procedure Regulation and Reception Conditions Directive enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal. The other five Findings will enter into force on the 20th day following the publication in the Official Journal. In line with the other Member States, Ireland will now be required to translate the new rules set out in these legal mechanisms into practice.
Background
After a historic understanding was reached on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, work has begun to translate the large and complex set of legislative acts into an operating reality over the next two years. This will be a joint endeavour, with the EU Commission supporting Member States every step of the way. The Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum, assumed by the EU Commission on 12 June, sets out the critical milestones for all Member States to set in place the legal and operational capabilities needed to successfully start applying the new legislation by mid-2026.
In addition, the EU Agencies will also deliver both operational and targeted sponsorship to the Member States throughout this process. Member States may also obtain support from the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), under which a reliable call was established on 14 June to support Member States in creating their National Implementation Plans.
