Box 4: Towards enhanced preparedness, contingency planning and crisis response
The legislative instruments of the Pact require Member States to develop asylum and reception systems that are sufficiently resilient and flexible to respond to sudden crisis situations.296 The European Commission’s Common Implementation Plan (CIP) highlights that a Member State is considered to be prepared if it has adequate human, material and financial resources and infrastructure, to ensure that the asylum and migration systems function properly, and that a coordination mechanism is in place between national and EU-level stakeholders.297 Establishing an appropriate contingency plan covering reception and the asylum procedure is part of this preparedness.298 The European Commission’s European Annual Asylum and Migration Report will inform about the level of preparedness of Member States.299 The EUAA published guidance on contingency planning in reception already in 2018300 and in the asylum procedure in 2024.301 These documents are now being adapted to the new measures of the Pact and are planned to be published in 2026. In addition, the EUAA developed a contingency plan template and manual in 2024, which form the basis for drafting the national contingency plans.
In the first step, Member States have focused on adapting legislation on contingency planning and developing or updating contingency plans and related workflows. Some countries have started to map existing capacities and identify challenges that may involve several organisations and different governance levels. One of the key challenges in this area is to ensure that sufficient resources are made available to meet the needs, both in terms of funding and human resources. Some Member States have initiated discussions on improving their coordination mechanisms for contingency planning and strengthening cooperation with local authorities and other stakeholders, be it other national authorities or civil society organisations.
- 296
European Commission. (2024, June 12). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum. COM(2024) 251 final.
- 297
European Commission. (2024, June 12). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum. COM(2024) 251 final.
- 298
European Commission. (2024, June 12). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum. COM(2024) 251 final.
- 299
- 300
European Union Agency for Asylum. (March 2018). Guidance on contingency planning in the context of reception.
- 301
European Union Agency for Asylum. (May 2024). Guidance on contingency planning and preparedness in the asylum procedure: Operational standards and indicators.