Nine EU countries receive technical support for the implementation of the Pact

Following the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, a two-year transition period was set into motion to prepare for its entry into application. During this period, the European Commission will be coordinating a common implementation plan for the EU, assessing possible gaps and necessary operational steps to turn the new rules on migration and asylum into a reality. Based on this plan, EU countries will have to develop national implementation plans by December 2024, outlining the necessary actions to ensure their readiness for the Pact’s entry into application, mid-2026.

In this context, the EU’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) emerges as a crucial component of the Pact, offering EU countries tailor-made expertise to enact the necessary reforms. The Commission launched a dedicated TSI call in June 2024 to assist EU countries with the preparation of their national implementation plans. Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Romania submitted requests, and will now receive tailored expertise for four months, until the end of November 2024. The TSI Flagship initiative will guide these countries in areas such as asylum procedures, screening, migration management, resettlement, integration, the external dimension of migration, and the strategic use of EU funds.

An array of technical support measures

The TSI Flagship initiative offers multiple support measures for EU countries to choose from, including:

• Situational analysis to identify policy needs and gaps
• A platform for mapping and exchanging good practices
• Strategic planning and action development in collaboration with stakeholders
• Legal and regulatory framework recommendations
• Operational capacity assessments to implement the Pact's elements
• Policy coordination and information sharing structures
• Monitoring and evaluation mechanism enhancement
• Digitalisation of procedures and service access
• Institutional and capacity building to manage new policies and EU funds
• Communication strategy development and dissemination of reforms

This flagship initiative is designed to complement other EU funding and operational support from EU agencies, ensuring a cohesive and comprehensive support system. Most notably, the Commission has provided support to numerous EU countries to assist with reforms in the areas of reception and accommodation, inclusion and integration into the labour market, as well as talent attraction and retention, in anticipation of the 2024 TSI cycle.