The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force on the 12 June 2026 - Part 2

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force on the 12 June 2026 - Part 2

Published February 24, 2026

The Screening Regulation [Regulation (EU) 2024/1356]

The Regulation marks a significant development in the approach of the EU to migration.  A structured pre-entry screening procedure is introduced for irregular third-country nationals, those who apply for international protection at the external borders, or are disembarked following search and rescue operations. 

The procedure is designed to take place quickly and includes identity verification, security checks, health and vulnerability assessments, biometric registration, and referral to the appropriate follow-up procedure.

Yet the Regulation does more than establish administrative processes. 

Member States are required to establish an independent monitoring mechanism to oversee compliance with fundamental rights during screening at the external borders. 

The screening procedure takes place at a legally sensitive moment. The persons concerned are physically present at the border or within the territory but are subject to a pre-entry framework. Their legal status is often uncertain. They are therefore subject to movement restrictions. 

Timeframes are short, administrative pressure is high, and decisions taken during screening may have serious consequences for access to asylum, return procedures, or further border processing.These conditions create a high-risk administrative environment. The quick nature of screening, combined with the vulnerability of many persons concerned, including children, victims of human trafficking, survivors of trauma, and persons with disabilities, increases the risk of procedural shortcomings if safeguards are not strong enough.

Because of the sensitivity of the matters involved, the Regulation requires independent monitoring.

The monitoring body is not optional. It is a structural component designed to ensure that efficiency does not undermine legality and that border management remains anchored in the rule of law.