Austria appears likely to be spared from its EU migration-solidarity obligations once again next year, after the European Commission proposed exempting the country from contributions to the bloc’s 2027 Solidarity Pool. The recommendation, set out in the Commission’s annual migration report, recognises what Brussels describes as Austria’s long standing burden in dealing with secondary migration; the movement of asylum seekers from one EU country to another.
The report places Austria alongside Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Croatia and Poland in the category of countries facing a “significant migratory situation.” These states may ask EU interior ministers, when they meet in December, to reduce or waive their required contributions for the coming year. The solidarity mechanism, which came into force in 2025 under the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact, requires countries under less pressure to help those receiving disproportionate numbers of arrivals. Members can contribute by relocating asylum seekers, paying money, or providing staff, equipment and other practical support.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said Austria’s record had earned it special consideration. “Austria has taken on a great deal of responsibility over many years,” he told reporters. “That is being taken into account by the Commission. That is why we propose exempting Austria from contributions again in 2027.” He argued that the European migration shift was taking effect, noting that illegal migration across the continent continued to decline.
Brunner also highlighted a symbolic change in Austria: for the first time, more people are leaving the country through returns than are applying for asylum. For a country that has often been at the centre of Europe’s migration debates, the figure carries political weight.
While Austria may escape new obligations, the pressure remains heavy elsewhere. Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Greece are again expected to receive support from the rest of the EU, after receiving what the Commission calls a disproportionate share of arrivals last year. The four Mediterranean countries will be entitled to relocations, funding or other assistance from fellow member states.
The report also identifies migration risks in fifteen other countries, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland. These states will receive priority access to EU operational help, technical expertise and funding, though they will not necessarily be required to accept relocated asylum seekers.
Behind the political wrangling, the numbers tell a quieter story of decline. Irregular border crossings have more than halved over the past two years and fell by more than a third in the first six months of this year. Unauthorised movements between EU countries dropped by 25 percent in 2025, while asylum applications fell by 19 percent. The EU wide return rate rose to 32 percent.
The Commission’s report now opens negotiations over the 2027 Solidarity Pool. Once EU governments agree, the contributions become legally binding. For Austria, the likely result is another year without a direct obligation but the final word will belong to the Council in December.
