2026 Solidarity Pool: Helping Countries with Migrant Influx

Annual Solidarity Pool for 2026 – Key Points

• Purpose
  The EU wants to help member states that are under heavy migration pressure. The “Annual Solidarity Pool” gives them financial help, relocation of people, or other solidarity measures.

• Legal basis
  The proposal follows Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 on asylum and migration management. The Commission must propose a yearly decision; the Council adopts it.

• Who needs help?
  Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Spain are identified as “under migratory pressure” because they receive many arrivals, especially from rescue operations.

• How much help?

• 30 000 relocations (people moved to other EU countries)
• €600 million in financial contributions
• 42 % of these totals (12 600 relocations and €252 million) are earmarked for the four pressure‑states.

• Fair share for each member state
  The share is calculated from each country’s population and GDP (50 % weight each). The table below shows the percentage of the total that each state should contribute.
  | Country | Fair share (%) | Relocations | Financial (€ million) |
  |---------|----------------|-------------|------------------------|
  | Belgium | 3.08 | 924 | 18.5 |
  | Bulgaria | 1.02 | 306 | 6.1 |
  | Czechia | 2.14 | 642 | 12.8 |
  | Germany | 21.69 | 6 513 | 130.1 |
  | Estonia | 0.27 | 81 | 1.6 |
  | Ireland | 2.20 | 660 | 13.2 |
  | Greece | 1.86 | 558 | 11.2 |
  | Spain | 10.01 | 3 006 | 60.0 |
  | France | 16.00 | 4 800 | 96.0 |
  | Croatia | 0.69 | 207 | 4.1 |
  | Italy | 12.86 | 3 858 | 77.2 |
  | Cyprus | 0.20 | 60 | 1.2 |
  | Latvia | 0.32 | 96 | 1.9 |
  | Lithuania | 0.55 | 165 | 3.3 |
  | Luxembourg | 0.32 | 96 | 1.9 |
  | Hungary | 1.66 | 498 | 9.9 |
  | Malta | 0.13 | 39 | 0.8 |
  | Netherlands | 5.21 | 1 566 | 31.2 |
  | Austria | 2.41 | 723 | 14.4 |
  | Poland | 6.62 | 1 986 | 39.6 |
  | Portugal | 2.01 | 603 | 12.0 |
  | Romania | 3.15 | 945 | 18.9 |
  | Slovenia | 0.43 | 129 | 2.6 |
  | Slovakia | 0.99 | 298 | 5.9 |
  | Finland | 1.42 | 426 | 8.5 |
  | Sweden | 2.78 | 834 | 16.7 |

(Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.)

• How states can contribute
  Each state can choose any mix of the three options: relocations, money, or alternative measures (e.g., training, equipment). They can also give “responsibility offsets” if they take on cases from other states.

• Implementation

• The decision starts when Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 fully applies (mid‑2026).
• The EU Solidarity Coordinator will organise meetings and track how much each state gives and receives.
• States must report annually on their contributions and use of the pool.

• Support from EU agencies

• EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA) staff: 464 in Greece, 156 in Italy, 107 in Cyprus, 43 in Spain.
• Frontex staff: 661 in Greece, 472 in Italy, 72 in Cyprus, 198 in Spain.
• Funding from Home Affairs Funds (2021‑2027): €378 million for Cyprus, €2.059 million for Greece, €1.487 million for Italy, €1.646 million for Spain.

• Budget
  The €600 million is paid by contributing states to the EU budget. No extra budget statement is needed.

• Other notes

• The decision is “restricted” under EU rules, meaning it is not publicly available until adopted.
• Ireland participates; Denmark does not.
• The decision is part of a broader migration strategy that includes new rules on border screening, asylum procedures, and cooperation with third countries.

This summary captures the main facts and figures of the proposed Annual Solidarity Pool for 2026.