<h6><strong>Ane Barcos</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The European Commission published its report on asylum and migration this Wednesday as part of the first Annual Migration Management Cycle, highlighting that Spain is one of the countries most affected by migratory pressure in the European Union, due to the high number of irregular arrivals and the challenges associated with rescue operations. As a result, Spain will be one of the member states eligible to access the new Solidarity Fund when the Asylum and Migration Pact enters into force in 2026.</strong></h4> According to the report, Spain remains one of the main entry points to the EU for migrants, especially via the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic routes. Despite cooperation efforts with countries of origin and transit such as Morocco, irregular arrivals and search and rescue operations continue to pose a significant challenge for Spanish authorities. During the period between July 2024 and June 2025, Spain was responsible for 40% of the people rescued at sea within the EU, with over 80% of these people landing in Spain and Italy. The report also notes that, although irregular arrivals to the EU decreased by 35% compared to the previous period, asylum applications in Spain remained high. In particular, asylum seekers from Venezuela and Colombia accounted for a significant proportion of the applications registered in the country. Spain also experienced an increase in asylum applications submitted by unaccompanied minors, rising by 25% compared to the previous year. <h5><strong>Spain among the countries eligible for the Solidarity Fund</strong></h5> To help the member states most affected by migration pressure, the European Commission proposed the creation of a Solidarity Fund, which will become operational in mid-2026. Spain, along with other countries such as Greece, Cyprus, and Italy, will be able to access this fund to receive financial and logistical support in managing migration flows. This fund aims to provide a solidarity response to member states facing the greatest migration pressure, allowing them to receive contributions from other member states. Contributions can take the form of migrant relocation, financial compensation, or alternative measures, depending on the needs of each country. The EU Council will now be responsible for adopting the Implementing Decision that will formally establish the Solidarity Fund. To this end, a High-Level Solidarity Forum will be convened, where member states will commit to making their contributions according to their capacities and the principle of solidarity. Each country's contribution will be public and binding once the Council adopts its final decision on the fund. Although the Commission's report does not yet reveal specific details about the fund's final size or each state's exact contributions, these contributions are expected to be proportional to the needs of the affected countries.
