On 22 June 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision authorising the opening of negotiations for protocols with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein to update their association agreements on asylum responsibility criteria. The protocols will allow these four associated states to participate in Parts II and IV of Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 and Chapters II and III of Regulation (EU) 2024/1359, which govern the criteria and mechanisms for determining the state responsible for examining asylum applications.
The decision formalises a process that began on 30 March 2026, when the European Commission presented its recommendation and draft negotiating directives to the Council. The Justice and Home Affairs Counsellors (Asylum) examined the texts on 21 April 2026, and revised versions were confirmed via a silence procedure that expired on 22 May 2026. The final draft Council Decision, contained in document 9662/26, underwent legal-linguistic revision before being approved by the Permanent Representatives Committee on 17 June 2026.
The adopted decision and the accompanying negotiating directives (document 9662/26 ADD 1 RESTREINT + COR 1) will be transmitted to the European Parliament, which will be informed under Article 218(10) TFEU. The Council has also requested publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This update to the existing association agreements is necessary to align the participation of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein with the revised EU asylum framework established by the 2024 regulations. The negotiations will focus on incorporating rules that enable these countries to take part in the new mechanisms for determining responsibility for asylum claims, which are part of the broader reform of the Common European Asylum System.
The decision impacts the four associated states, which will need to negotiate and implement the new protocols to maintain their participation in the Dublin system. For EU member states, the update ensures a consistent application of asylum responsibility rules across the wider European area. The European Commission will lead the negotiations on behalf of the EU, with the Council's directives providing the mandate.
Following adoption, the Commission is expected to open formal negotiations with each of the four countries. The protocols will need to be concluded and ratified before they can enter into force, a process that may take several months to years.