The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is based on solidarity, responsibility-sharing, and respect for fundamental rights. A key component of this is the “solidarity mechanism” – meant to address the unequal distribution of responsibility for asylum seekers across Member States.
In 2024, EU+ countries received around one million asylum applications. Just four countries – Germany, Spain, Italy, and France – received nearly half of them.
In this joint statement, 17 civil society organisations, including Terre des hommes, warn that without strong enforcement and political will, the solidarity mechanism risks remaining symbolic. The analysis stresses the need for realistic, enforceable relocation targets, streamlined processes, and investment in rights-based reception systems.
It also highlights the urgent need to protect children on the move, who are among the most vulnerable and disproportionately impacted by the failures of the current system.
The analysis is co-signed by:
- International Rescue Committee
- ARSIS Association for the Social Support of Youth
- Association for Integration and Migration
- Caritas Europa
- Centre for Peace Studies (Croatia)
- ECPAT Deutschland e.V.
- Fenix-Humanitarian Legal Aid
- Foundation for Access to Rights (FAR)
- Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
- JRS Romania
- Network for Children's Rights (Greece)
- Reachout Foundation
- Refugee Legal Support (RLS)
- Samos Volunteers
- Symbiosis-Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Greece
- Terre des Hommes - helping children worldwide
- Terre des Hommes Germany
