Meeting in Brussels on 8 December, EU interior ministers finalised the first Annual Solidarity Pool under the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. While member states collectively pledged relocations or €420 million for front-line states such as Italy and Greece, the Czech Republic secured a full exemption from financial payments for 2026.
Prague’s diplomats argued that hosting almost 400,000 Ukrainians under Temporary Protection already strains housing, healthcare and education systems. Under the pact’s formula, countries deemed to be under “significant migratory pressure” may forgo contributions. The exemption means Czechia will not have to pay the anticipated €22 million levy next year, freeing budget room for domestic integration programmes.
![EU Waives Czechia’s 2026 Migration-Pact Cash Contribution, Citing Ukrainian Refugee Load]()
Corporate-immigration advisers note that the decision reduces short-term fiscal pressure for cuts in work-permit processing staff—an anxiety that had grown after agencies were told to identify savings for the contribution. However, Brussels warned that the waiver is temporary; if refugee numbers fall, Czechia could again be asked to contribute from 2027.
NGOs welcomed the reprieve but urged the new Babiš government to invest the saved funds in language training and skills-assessment centres that would accelerate Ukrainian entry into skilled labour shortages. Business groups agree, pointing to persistent vacancies in IT and construction.
For now, employers can expect existing fast-track routes for Ukrainian nationals to remain funded at current levels, avoiding the backlog fears that had surfaced in autumn budget talks.
Prague’s diplomats argued that hosting almost 400,000 Ukrainians under Temporary Protection already strains housing, healthcare and education systems. Under the pact’s formula, countries deemed to be under “significant migratory pressure” may forgo contributions. The exemption means Czechia will not have to pay the anticipated €22 million levy next year, freeing budget room for domestic integration programmes.
Corporate-immigration advisers note that the decision reduces short-term fiscal pressure for cuts in work-permit processing staff—an anxiety that had grown after agencies were told to identify savings for the contribution. However, Brussels warned that the waiver is temporary; if refugee numbers fall, Czechia could again be asked to contribute from 2027.
NGOs welcomed the reprieve but urged the new Babiš government to invest the saved funds in language training and skills-assessment centres that would accelerate Ukrainian entry into skilled labour shortages. Business groups agree, pointing to persistent vacancies in IT and construction.
For now, employers can expect existing fast-track routes for Ukrainian nationals to remain funded at current levels, avoiding the backlog fears that had surfaced in autumn budget talks.
