Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism: 5,000 asylum seekers relocated ahead of the mechanism’s transition to the new solidarity framework

On 12 June, the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism reached 5,000 relocations of asylum seekers to other European countries. This achievement comes in as the current rules are about to transition into the new permanent, mandatory and flexible solidarity framework, introduced by the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Relocation is a process that allows applicants and beneficiaries of international protection to move from their EU host country to another European country.

How the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism will change

As of mid-2026, relocation will be one type of solidarity measure under the new solidarity framework to support Member States under migratory pressure. EU countries will be able to choose to provide solidarity by receiving asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection from Member States under migratory pressure, or by contributing financially or through alternative solidarity measures (i.e. staff or in-kind support), including also the possibility to contribute with a combination of different types of solidarity measures. The different types of solidarity measures are of equal value.

The new framework under the Pact is designed to address the sharing of responsibility among EU countries in terms of asylum processing and reception, providing them with the flexibility to address the specific challenges they face. To do so, the Council will establish an annual solidarity pool, on the basis of a Commission’ proposal and following an annual report by the Commission that assesses the asylum, reception and migratory situation.

Background

Founded on the Declaration of Solidarity and coordinated by the European Commission, with the support of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism was launched in June 2022 by 21 European countries, who made pledges for the voluntary relocation of migrants from Member States most affected by migratory flows by sea. Lessons learnt from this ongoing scheme were taken on board for the new permanent, solidarity mechanism, which will be implemented as part of the new migration and asylum rules introduced by the Pact.