Both Greece and Italy may receive Union aid under the new migration pact

The European Commission has announced that Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy will be eligible for special assistance under the European Union's new migration and asylum pact from mid-2026. Countries can apply for support in the form of reception of migrants, financial contributions or other measures through the so-called "solidarity fund".

The aim is to alleviate the disproportionate pressure these countries have faced, particularly in the context of rescue operations at sea and high numbers of arrivals.

Although the total number of illegal border crossings fell by 35 percent between July 2024 and June 2025, the Commission warns that migration challenges remain. In addition to the four Mediterranean countries, countries such as Belgium, Germany and Poland have also been identified as at risk and will receive priority access to the Union's migration management tools.

At the same time, the organisation plans to allocate €250 million to strengthen border protection, including the purchase of drones and anti-drone technology. Six Eastern European countries can apply to reduce their contributions to the High Burden Fund from the last five years.

(reuters, max)