The Informal Ministerial Meeting on the European Pact on Migration and Asylum will be held on Thursday, June 11, and Friday, June 12, in Nicosia, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026, chaired by Deputy Minister of Migration, Nicholas Ioannides.
According to a statement by the Cyprus EU Presidency Secretariat, the Summit marks the milestone of the entry into force of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and offers an opportunity to highlight the importance of implementing the Pact, as well as its role in shaping a common, effective, and comprehensive European approach to managing migration and asylum.
As noted, on Thursday, June 11, at 6:45 p.m., participants in the Informal Ministerial Meeting will visit areas of Old Nicosia and the buffer zone (starting at the Freedom Monument in the Archdiocese area), while the meeting’s proceedings will take place on Friday, June 12, at the Conference Center in Nicosia.
It is noted that the Informal Ministerial Meeting on the European Pact on Migration and Asylum will focus on the launch of the Pact and the next steps for its effective implementation across the EU.
In particular, the first working session, titled ‘From Negotiation to Implementation,’ will provide ministers with an opportunity to examine the transition from political agreement to operational implementation. Discussions will focus on preparations at the national level, legislative adaptation, new procedures, Information Technology (IT) systems, staff training, border procedures and screening procedures, as well as the main lessons learned by Member States during the implementation phase.
It is added that during the working lunch, EU and international organizations will present their views on the implementation of the Pact, highlighting in their remarks the support provided to Member States, including technical guidance, operational assistance, training, capacity building, coordination, and expertise on legal, IT, and fundamental rights issues.
It is further noted that the second working session, titled ‘Beyond Implementation: The Way Forward,’ will examine the future of European migration and asylum policy, during which ministers will discuss ways to ensure that the Pact remains effective, credible, and sustainable, while addressing future challenges such as migratory pressure, returns of migrants, border management, solidarity, cooperation with third countries, efforts to combat migrant smuggling, and legal migration routes.
Ministers’ arrivals and statements at the conference center will begin at 9:00 a.m., while a press conference will be held at 1:45 p.m., the statement concludes.