site.btaEU Establishes Pool on Migrant Allocation, Bulgaria Among Exempted States

The Council of the EU reached a political agreement to establish an annual solidarity pool for 2026, which will provide effective support to EU Member States that are under migratory pressure, including Bulgaria, the Council reported on Monday.

Based on the assessment of quantitative and qualitative criteria set out in EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, the European Commission has concluded that Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia and Poland face a significant migratory situation due to the cumulative migratory pressure of the previous years. They have the possibility to request a full or partial deduction from their contributions to the solidarity pool.

Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain have been identified as being under migratory pressure. These countries can benefit from the solidarity measures of the solidarity pool.

The solidarity needs for 2026 reflect the fact that the first annual migration management cycle will start being implemented as of June 12, 2026. The reference number for the solidarity pool 2026 is 21,000 relocations or other solidarity efforts or EUR 420 million financial contributions.

During the meetings of the High-Level Solidarity Forum, which took place on November 18 and 27, 2025, Member States pledged their solidarity contributions. There are three types of solidarity measures: relocations, financial contributions and alternative solidarity measures. It is for each Member State to decide which type of solidarity measure it pledges, including the possibility to pledge a combination of different measures, the Council of the EU said.