Europe is continuing to introduce stricter measures on migration. At a Justice and Home Affairs Council, the 27 members of the bloc greenlighted three key changes to the legislative mosaic set to complement the Pact on Asylum and Migration, a reform approved in 2024 which will come into force next June.

The changes in particular concern repatriation rules and the concept of safe third countries and the EU list of safe countries of origin.

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Green light to the Albania model and solidarity fund

The overhaul will, among other things, juridically allow the creation of 'return hubs' abroad, in Europe and in third countries, provided they abide by specific safety standards for migrants.

Italy's so-called Albania model, or Italian-run migrant centres on Albanian territory, will now be allowed to operate as repatriation facilities and not just as registration hubs for the processing of asylum applications, with great "satisfaction" expressed by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

"We give great value to the agreement, Italy has played an important role", stressed the Italian interior minister.

The three changes -- given as uncertain on the eve of the council -- will be completed by an agreement on the solidarity fund for 2026 proposed by the European Commission, as provided for by the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Further negotiations were necessary, given that it will come into effect next June.

The quota set is 21,000 (though it should be at least 30,000 once the system is in place).

Italy, based on the report drafted by the EU executive, is among four countries set to receive the mandatory solidarity of other member States.

Capitals will however be allowed to choose whether to accept a certain quota of migrants, financial contributions or alternative measures.

Financial contributions have raised more interest, well-informed sources said, even though a certain number of countries have expressed willingness to accept relocations. The final scheme will become clear once it is published in the Official Gazette.

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How responsibility offsets work and the concept of third safe country

The other key element is the responsibility offset, allowing destination countries to ask countries of first arrival like Italy to deduct the number of migrants present on their territory -- in the framework of the Dublin treaty -- from mandatory solidarity.

Italy has however drafted an agreement with Germany and France on alternative measures during this initial phase of transition with the objective of finding a balance between responsibility and solidarity, with countries of first arrival mandated to register arrivals with precision or risk to be denied aid.

In general, the most relevant changes are in the three regulations approved by the European Council which will now need to be negotiated with Parliament to come into force.

The concept of safe third country, for example, allows member States to reject an application request without examining its merit when applicants could have obtained international protection there.

Requirements to assess safety have been eased without the need for applicants to have ties with the third country. For example, transit can be considered a sufficient criterion.

The Council has also agreed that the following nations should be designated as safe countries of origin: Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as candidates for EU adhesion.

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