A major reform of the European rules on migration in force, imposing stricter border controls and a solidarity mechanism for managing asylum seekers.

A significant reform of European migration rules has come into force, aimed at streamlining border procedures and restructuring the asylum system. The EU Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, stated that for the first time there is a comprehensive European system. Migrants who enter the EU illegally will be subjected to identity and security checks, and asylum applications will be expedited in cases with security risks. The new system introduces a solidarity mechanism, obliging member states to take in a number of asylum seekers or to pay a sum for each rejected. An emergency plan is also anticipated to manage unexpected increases in migration flows. However, human rights organizations criticize the new measures, warning that they could lead to the prolonged detention of migrants. 12 member states have not completed the necessary preparations for implementing the reform, and public opinion is becoming increasingly critical of migration.