Operational Component

Supporting the Implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

• Key project data:
  • Donor: European Commission
  • Beneficiary countries: Czechia, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Romania
  • Implementation period: April 2025 to March 2026

• Objective:

To support national authorities in implementing reforms under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum through targeted assistance and operational support in key building blocks identified in their National Implementation Plans.

• Background:

Following the submission of National Implementation Plans (NIPs) in December 2024, EU Member States entered a critical phase of translating their Pact-related reform priorities into action. The 2025 flagship Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project builds on the outcomes of the previous support phase, responding to national requests for further technical and operational assistance.

Structured around selected building blocks of the EU Pact’s Common Implementation Plan, the TSI 2025 project supports national administrations in implementing legal, procedural, and institutional changes required ahead of the Pact’s application in mid-2026. Areas of support vary by country and include border procedures, Eurodac and interoperability, reception and vulnerability systems, return and reintegration, and independent monitoring.

The project is delivered by ICMPD’s Member States Programme in close cooperation with public authorities in five EU countries - Czechia, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, and Romania - to ensure that implementation efforts are practical and tailored to the national context.

This project is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and implemented by ICMPD, in cooperation with the European Commission.

Upcoming Opportunities Under the TSI 2026 Cycle

• Background:

At the 79^th Steering Group meeting in Vienna, Austria, the Steering Group approved the establishment of the Committee on Programming Coordination (CPC), as proposed in SG 13/22. The Committee aims to facilitate conversations on programming priorities and joint initiatives, with the overarching objective to enhance cooperation, achieve multiplier effects and reinforce the impact of operational activities. The Committee will explore new opportunities for collaboration in line with Member States’ priorities and ICMPD’s strategy. While the Committee supports the Steering Group in strategic decision-making through appropriate consultations, it does not take formal decisions.

CPC meetings to date have primarily focused on the cooperation priorities of Member States with partner countries and specific thematic areas. Yet, ICMPD also plays a crucial role in supporting policy and capacity development within Member States – an area of increasing relevance in the context of implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. This CPC meeting aimed to highlight ICMPD’s engagement in this area, with a particular focus on how the organisation supports Member States through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) of the Secretariat-General Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM). These efforts are driven by ICMPD’s Member States Programme, which will present key activities and outline upcoming opportunities for collaboration.

All participants were encouraged to contribute actively by sharing their perspectives and migration priorities, engaging in discussions with ICMPD’s MS Programme, and exploring potential areas for collaboration.

• Related documents:
  • Agenda
  • Upcoming Opportunity: TSI 2026 cycle (Presentation)
  • Overview of TSI National Coordinating Authorities
  • TSI 2026 call information and request template
  • Public Administration Cooperation Exchange (PACE) initiative

Supporting the Development of National Implementation Plans under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

• Key project data:
  • Donor: European Commission
  • Beneficiary countries: Czechia, Germany, Ireland, Romania
  • Implementation period: August to December 2024

• Objective:

To support national authorities in designing, developing, and implementing reforms under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, including the preparation of National Implementation Plans (NIPs) in line with the Common Implementation Plan, ahead of the Pact’s application in June 2026.

• Background:

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted in 2024, introduced a comprehensive legal and policy framework for migration governance across the European Union. To guide Member States in operationalising the Pact, the European Commission developed a Common Implementation Plan (CIP), structured around ten thematic building blocks—including Eurodac, asylum and return procedures, border management, reception systems, and solidarity mechanisms.

Under this framework, Member States were required to prepare National Implementation Plans (NIPs) by 12 December 2024, outlining the reforms, capacities, and milestones needed to align with the Pact’s obligations by its application date in June 2026. These plans addressed legal frameworks, institutional coordination, infrastructure, staffing, and digital systems.

Through funding from the EU’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI), ICMPD’s Member States Programme supported four countries - Czechia, Germany, Ireland, and Romania - in preparing their NIPs. The project delivered tailored technical assistance, policy advice, and structured peer exchanges to ensure each plan reflected national specificities while aligning with the common EU framework.

• Activities, results and outcomes:
  • Expert recommendations: Targeted support from ICMPD and external experts, tailored to national priorities.
  • Thematic expert meetings: National-level working sessions and consultations across relevant institutions.
  • Peer-to-peer exchanges: Cross-country workshops to promote knowledge-sharing and collaborative approaches.

This project was funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and implemented by ICMPD, in cooperation with the European Commission.