EU states agree on solidarity fund for 2026, Czechia exempt from contributions

EU interior ministers have reached a political agreement to establish a solidarity fund for 2026 as part of the EU migration and asylum pact. Czechia will not have to contribute next year because of the high number of Ukrainian refugees with temporary protection in the country, the Czech EU representation said. Ministers also approved the Council’s position on two regulations designed to speed up asylum procedures for people not eligible for protection: the safe third country regulation and the safe country of origin regulation. The move allows talks with the European Parliament to begin. A common EU list of safe countries of origin is meant to accelerate the processing of unfounded asylum claims and reduce secondary movements within the bloc.