On September 26, the interior ministers of 18 European countries will gather in Munich to discuss amendments to the EU’s new migration and asylum pact. According to Euractiv, the parties, in particular, want to establish a streamlined system for revoking refugee protection status for those who have committed serious crimes.

The meeting in Munich was initiated by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. In addition to representatives from EU countries, ministers from other nations—including the United Kingdom—will attend the informal meeting. Euractiv, citing documents from the meeting’s agenda, notes that there is also a proposal to use AI as an interpreter for reviewing asylum applications in order to reduce processing times.

Another proposal is to expand the information stored in Eurodac—the EU’s migration database. Currently, it contains only biometric data, but according to Euractiv, some European countries are calling for other information that border guards obtain during checks to be included as well.

The new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force in June. Its main provisions include: mandatory screening of third-country nationals at external borders and the collection of biometric data; stricter procedures for assessing eligibility for asylum and an expedited deportation process in the event of a rejection; and cooperation among EU countries on the relocation of refugees. In addition, the possibility of establishing external centers outside the European Union is being discussed, to which rejected asylum seekers would be sent. Furthermore, EU ministers agreed on a “list of safe countries” to which migrants can be sent, even if they have no ties to that country.

For citizens of countries on the pan-European list of safe countries, a procedure was in effect in February 2026 under which the applicant was required to challenge the presumption that their country of origin was safe and to prove the threat of persecution or other risks upon return. This places the primary burden of proof on the asylum seeker.

The proposed deportation scheme could operate via third countries: in December 2025, the EU reached a preliminary agreement to send applicants to a country with which they have no ties, even if they were merely transiting through it. For rejected applicants, this is supplemented by a restriction on their stay in the EU during the appeal process without a separate court ruling, which limits their ability to remain in the country while their appeal is pending.

The implementation of such measures depends not only on harmonizing the rules. In June 2026, it was reported that some EU countries were not technically prepared to ensure strict control over admissions and, above all, deportations; therefore, tightening procedures alone does not guarantee the swift enforcement of rejection decisions.