In cooperation with Italian national authorities, the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), and Europol, Frontex conducted a two-week pilot exercise on Lampedusa in October 2025 to test the EU’s new screening process. This exercise was part of the preparatory measures for implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The pilot assessed the operational use of the Screening Toolbox, a standardized set of tools and procedures designed to support the application of the Screening Regulation. The exercise simulated realistic conditions with 240 irregular arrivals, focusing on optimizing workflows, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and ensuring compliance with legal safeguards. Joint Screening Teams, composed of personnel from Frontex, the EUAA, Europol, and Italian authorities, carried out comprehensive assessments of each individual:

• Health and vulnerability checks;
• Identification;
• Biometric registration;
• Security screening.

All individuals received accessible information on procedural safeguards, the right to asylum, and the specialized support available. Results were recorded individually using dedicated screening forms to guarantee legal accountability and procedural transparency.

Insights from this pilot phase will contribute to the final version of the Screening Toolbox, which is scheduled for distribution to all EU Member States and Schengen-Associated countries in 2026. Under the Screening Regulation 2024/1356, Member States are required to apply uniform rules ensuring monitoring and proper registration of all irregular migrants and asylum seekers entering the EU. It will apply from 12 June 2026.