All European Union member states should share the burden of asylum seekers to stop countries on the front line being overwhelmed by migrant arrivals, Brussels is expected to propose on Wednesday.
The new migration policy will demand all EU countries show solidarity with front line states – often Greece, Italy or Malta – when they are "under pressure" from arrivals.
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum will be revealed by the EU’s home affairs chief Ylva Johansson.
The policy is expected to include plans to strengthen border security and return failed asylum seekers, as requested by countries such as Hungary and Poland.
"It's obvious to everybody that ad hoc solidarity or voluntary solidarity is not enough. That has been proven for many years now," Ms Johansson said. "It has to be mandatory."
However, the proposal may prove tough to pass through the legislative process, with Austria's chancellor Sebastian Kurz warning the EU against forcing states to take in asylum seekers.
"We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed and many states reject this. It won't work like this," he said.
Before the presentation of the pact, the UN’s refugee agency said the current approach to migration was untenable and in need of change.
“The Pact presents the opportunity for Europe to show that it can uphold the fundamental right to asylum, while co-operating on pragmatic policies to identify those in need of international protection and share responsibility for them,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
“We will welcome genuine efforts to ensure a fast, fair and effective protection regime in Europe, and pledge our full support and expertise to the European Commission and Member States in making it a reality.”
In 2015, more than 1 million refugees and migrants arrived in Europe.