Brunner: 28 percent return rate "unacceptable" [premium]

Vienna, Austria – European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, has sounded a note of caution regarding the imminent full implementation of the EU's landmark Asylum and Migration Pact, scheduled for June 12, 2026. Speaking at the Europaforum Wachau, Brunner emphasized that "on the first day, not everything will work perfectly. There is a lot of work ahead of us," tempering expectations for the sweeping reform, the most significant in EU immigration policy in decades.

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On the first day, not everything will work perfectly. There is a lot of work ahead of us.

The pact, comprising eleven legal acts, is designed to tackle illegal migration by strengthening external border protection, standardizing asylum processes, fostering solidarity among member states, and enhancing international cooperation. However, a progress report from the EU Commission reveals that several frontline states, including Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, have yet to establish adequate facilities and personnel for the expedited border procedures mandated by the pact for migrants with low recognition rates.

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What infrastructure is concerned, there are still challenges in some countries. Some took it too lightly at the beginning, but now the efforts are enormous.

Brunner highlighted that the pact's success hinges on mutual support among EU members. The solidarity mechanism requires nations to assist those disproportionately affected by migration, offering resources, financial aid, or the relocation of asylum seekers. While Brunner expressed optimism about the system's potential, acknowledging that "subjectively, all EU-27 naturally think they are under migration pressure," he stressed the existence of clear rules for requesting assistance. Encouragingly, Frontex data indicates a 40% reduction in illegal arrivals in the first four months of 2026 compared to the previous year, a trend Brunner attributes significantly to "agreements with third countries, for example in combating smuggling crime."

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Subjectively, all EU-27 naturally think they are under migration pressure. Those at the external border as well as Austria or Germany, which are affected by secondary migration. But there are clear rules for when a country can ask for help.