What is the EU Migration Pact Ireland has just opted in to?

The Dáil has voted to opt into the EU Asylum and Migration Pact by a slim margin of 79 votes to 72.

In March, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced that Ireland would opt into the pact, which will introduce legally-binding processing times for International Protection applications.

What is the EU Asylum and Migration Pact?

The Pact on Migration and Asylum is a set of new rules managing migration, allowing countries to either make a financial contribution or agree to relocate asylum seekers to other EU states.

It builds on and amends previous reform proposals in the area of migration, with the hopes of strengthening and integrating key EU policies on migration, asylum, border management and integration.

What will the pact change?

The pact includes measures on enhanced screening and security checks. It includes faster processing of asylum applications, and a greater focus on efficient returns for unsuccessful applicants.

What does this include? 

The four pillars of the new migration and asylum policy include securing external borders through robust screening, Eurodac asylum and migration database, border procedure and returns and crisis protocols & action against instrumentalisation.

It also includes fast and efficient procedures through clear asylum rules, guaranteeing people's rights, EU standards for refugee status qualifications and Preventing abuses of rules.

Effective system of solidarity and responsibility will see permanent solidarity framework, operational and financial support, clearer rules on responsibility for asylum applications and preventing secondary movements.

Inclusion of embedding migration in international partnerships is the final pillar. This will be done through preventing irregular departures, fighting migrant smuggling, cooperation on readmission and promoting legal pathways.

When will implementation of the Pact start?

The legal proposals will officially enter into force 20 days after publication of the laws in the Official Journal. Member States will have two years after the entry into force of the instruments to implement the Pact in full.

What are obligations for Asylum applicants?

The Asylum Procedure Regulation introduces clear and strict rules on obligations of applicants during the asylum procedure: information which needs to be provided for the registration of an application (including biometrics for the registration in Eurodac); obligation to lodge their application within 21 days from registration; obligation to attend interviews; to remain in the Member State where they are supposed to be in accordance with the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation; to cooperate with the authorities at all stages of the procedure.

Failure to comply with these obligations entails severe consequences, especially the fact that in some cases the authorities will consider the application implicitly withdrawn.

How will fast and efficient procedures be ensured?

Fast and efficient procedures will be ensured through to the concrete timelines set out in the legislation. These will need to be respected by Member States when processing applications. For example, the border procedure will apply for a limited duration. It can only last 12 weeks (3 months). This period may be extended to 16 weeks if the applicant is relocated to another Member State. This gives sufficient time to properly assess cases that in principle are not supposed to be complex, ensuring that those with no legal right to stay can be returned in a faster and dignified manner.