Today, the EU’s far-reaching CEAS migration reform comes into force, radically changing the procedures for receiving refugees. Mandatory preliminary screening at external borders has been introduced, with accelerated procedures for individuals from countries with low application approval rates. Migrants from these countries will be placed in closed camps with a processing time of up to 12 weeks and mandatory deportation in the event of a rejection.
- The reform of the CEAS, introducing new migration rules, has begun in the EU.
- Mandatory pre-entry screening has been introduced at external borders.
- Migrants with little chance of being granted asylum will be placed in closed camps.
- The maximum processing time for cases in the camps is 12 weeks, followed by deportation.
Key changes to EU migration policy
New CEAS system introduces mandatory pre-screening of all persons arriving at the EU’s external borders. For applicants from countries with a migration application approval rate of less than 20%, accelerated procedures will apply. This is intended to reduce processing times and strengthen control over migration flows.
Migrants from countries with a low chance of being granted asylum, including Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will be held in effectively closed border camps whilst their applications are being processed. This new measure is intended to limit opportunities for irregular movement and speed up the decision-making process.
Processing and deportation times
The maximum processing time for cases in such border camps will not exceed 12 weeks. If the application is rejected during this period, the person must be immediately deported to their country of origin. This approach improves the efficiency of resolving migration issues and reduces the burden on the systems of individual member states.
The redistribution of migrants among member states
The CEAS reform stipulates that other EU Member States are obliged to take on part of the procedures relating to refugees in order to relieve the burden on countries of first entry, in particular Italy, Greece and Spain. The European Commission will coordinate this process, with a view to ensuring a fairer distribution of the burden.
Extradition to third countries
One of the key changes is the ability to deport migrants to third countries, which will be identified by the end of 2026. This is intended to reduce the number of people remaining in EU countries without proper status and to streamline the processes for receiving and resettling refugees.
Expansion of the list of safe countries
The EU also plans to expand the list of countries considered safe for migrants. This will enable applications from those arriving from these countries to be rejected more quickly, allowing resources to be focused on higher-risk cases. This approach will contribute to more effective management of migration flows in the region.
