The European Commission published its first assessment of the implementation of the new rules on responsibility-sharing under the Pact on Migration and Asylum on Thursday, painting a positive picture for Cyprus and concluding that the country does not need to be placed under special monitoring.

The evaluation report follows the entry into force of the new rules on June 12, 2026, and covers the initial phase of implementation of the new European framework, documenting the progress of member states which are facing increased migratory pressures, namely Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Spain. Spain also receives a positive assessment, as the Commission has not identified any problems in its operational cooperation with the other Member States. In contrast, Greece and Italy remain under closer scrutiny.

Cyprus is among the countries receiving a positive assessment from the Commission, as the eight-page report its implementation of the new rules on liability and its cooperation with the other member states are deemed adequate and effective. According to the Commission, “the Republic of Cyprus’s operational cooperation in implementing the new system does not give rise to any particular concern,” while the procedures for transferring asylum seekers under the solidarity and responsibility-sharing mechanism are being implemented satisfactorily.

For this reason, the European Commission considers that, at this stage, no specific monitoring of Cyprus is required under Article 4 of the Commission’s 2025 Implementing Decision. This positive assessment specifically concerns the country’s ability to comply with the new procedures for cooperation, the transfer of asylum seekers, and participation in the European Solidarity Mechanism.

Cyprus is one of the four Member States designated for 2026 as countries under migratory pressure and, as such, is eligible to benefit from the EU’s annual solidarity mechanism. This mechanism provides for support from other member states through the relocation of asylum seekers or other forms of contribution, with the aim of ensuring a fairer distribution of responsibilities within the EU.

With regard to Greece, the Commission acknowledges that significant steps have been taken to correct past practices and to prepare for the full implementation of the new framework, but notes that additional time is needed to confirm that the changes have taken root and are being effectively implemented in practice.

With regard to Italy, the Commission notes that significant institutional and operational preparations have been made, but obstacles to the procedures for transferring asylum seekers to the country still remain. For this reason, it calls on the Italian authorities to immediately address the practices that hinder the effective implementation of the new European framework.

The Commission emphasizes that these are preliminary conclusions, as the new rules have been in effect for only a very short time. A new assessment is expected in October 2026, based on data submitted by Member States regarding the progress of the Pact’s implementation.

The Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force on June 12, 2026, and introduces a new permanent European system that seeks to combine the responsibility of the first-of-arrival countrieswith solidarity among the Member States of the Union.