This EMN Inform provides an overview of existing approaches, mechanisms and measures to reduce irregular migration to the EU and Norway.

EU Home Affairs Ministers have reached a political agreement on the 2026 solidarity pool, a central component of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The deal sets binding targets of 21.000 relocations or €420 million in contributions, aimed at supporting Member States under migratory pressure. Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Spain are identified as beneficiaries once the Pact becomes applicable in June 2026. The agreement marks a step forward for the solidarity dimension of the Pact, although its practical impact will depend on future implementation.

The European Commission has launched the first Annual Migration Management Cycle under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The cycle provides an annual overview of migration and asylum in the EU and identifies pressures on Member States. It includes the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report, a Commission decision on Member States’ migratory situations, and a proposal for the Annual Solidarity Pool. 

During the meeting of the Home Affairs Council, Ministers discussed migratory pressures, and in particular the situation in the central Mediterranean, as well as increasing trends in asylum applications from Western Balkans countries and in particular Kosovo.

In the past few days more than 300 people died as a consequence of three different incidents with vessels that were trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe.