EditEU asylum database malfunctions on launch day of landmark Migration Pact
The system, which stores biometric data and forms a cornerstone of the new framework, experienced problems described as “first-day glitch”
The European Union’s central asylum database, Eurodac, suffered a technical malfunction on Friday, the very day the bloc’s long-awaited Migration and Asylum Pact entered into force, Dutch immigration authorities confirmed.
The system, which stores biometric data and forms a cornerstone of the new framework, experienced problems during a scheduled update. Several member states were affected, with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service noting that the database had not been fully operational even before the failure. EU Commission spokesperson Marcus Lammert downplayed the incident, describing it as a normal “first-day glitch” and saying that member states were gradually connecting to the system.
The malfunction highlights the implementation challenges facing the ambitious reform package, with many countries reportedly still unprepared in terms of infrastructure and procedures.
What is the EU’s new Migration and Asylum Pact?
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is a comprehensive reform consisting of ten legislative acts adopted in 2024. It entered into force today, 12 June 2026, after a two-year preparation period, marking the most significant overhaul of European migration policy in decades.
The Pact seeks to establish a unified, fairer and more efficient system for managing migration and asylum across the bloc. Its main goals are to strengthen external border controls, speed up asylum and return procedures, protect genuine refugees, and ensure no single member state — particularly frontline countries like Greece or Italy – is left to bear disproportionate pressure alone.
At the heart of the new rules is a mandatory border screening process for all irregular arrivals. Migrants must undergo identification, health and security checks within a maximum of seven days. Their biometric data, including fingerprints, facial images and copies of travel documents, are registered in the upgraded Eurodac database. Officials then assess vulnerabilities, nationality and asylum prospects before directing individuals into the appropriate procedure.
The Pact also introduces faster asylum procedures at the border for applicants from “safe” countries or those with low chances of qualifying for protection, alongside a mandatory solidarity mechanism. Member states must contribute through relocation of asylum seekers, financial payments (set at €20,000 per person not relocated), operational support or capacity-building assistance.
While the reform is welcomed by many governments as a pragmatic step toward regaining control of migration, human rights organisations have expressed concerns that it could weaken safeguards for asylum seekers and increase the use of detention. Today’s technical hiccup with Eurodac serves as an early reminder that turning the Pact’s ambitious goals into smooth day-to-day reality will require significant effort from all member states in the months and years ahead.
With Reuters
Caption: European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner speaks to the media as he arrives for the Justice and Home Affairs (Home Affairs) Council meeting in Luxembourg, 4 June 2026. The ministers discuss the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and other issues. EPA/Olivier Hoslet
Updated: June 12, 2026 - 18:35
