EU Toughens Up on Illegal Arrivals in New Migration Policy
The European Commission said efficiently returning illegal arrivals to their countries of origin was an “urgent” priority.
The European Commission said efficiently returning illegal arrivals to their countries of origin was an “urgent” priority. The five‑year plan would be guided by the principle that "Europe decides who comes to the EU."The European Commission presented its plan for the European Union's migration policy on Thursday, promising to tackle irregular migration and pledging to work with countries outside of the bloc.
"The priority is clear: bringing illegal arrival numbers down and keeping them down," said EU commissioner for migration Magnus Brunner.
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"Abuse gives migration a bad name -- it undermines public trust and ultimately takes away from our ability to provide protection and undercuts our drive to attract talent," said Brunner.
The announcement comes as political pressure on the EU to crack down on illegal migration remains high, even as irregular arrivals were down by more than a quarter in 2025.
Brunner promised a "a new chapter" for the 27-member bloc on migration and asylum policy.
Rights NGO Amnesty International criticized the EU's approach, calling it "flawed," warning that a greater dependence on so-called "third countries" would make the EU "complicit in any rights violations that may result."
Europe 'decides who comes'
In a statement explaining the EU's migration policy strategy, the Commission said it seeks to put in place "a framework that is fair and firm."
"It asserts the principle that it is Europe that decides who comes to the EU, and under which circumstances," the statement read.
The EU is expected to focus on preventing illegal migration, cracking down on human smuggling, offering asylum opportunities while "preventing abuse of the system," and attracting migrant talent to boost the EU's economy.
The Commission said that skills gaps and labour shortages are expected across the bloc "in many key sectors."
"The EU should aim to become the most attractive place in the global race for talent," the statement read.
To achieve this, the Commission pledged to "simplify and accelerate the rules and the process to attract the skills Europe needs, including on the recognition and validation of qualifications and skills."
'Return hubs'
The EU commission highlighted that only about a fourth of migrants who have been ordered to leave actually return to their countries of origin. The bloc said that increasing the effectiveness of the EU's return system was "urgent."
"Fast, effective and dignified return is indispensable to the well-functioning and the credibility of our migration and asylum system," the commission statement read.
The commission is putting forth the concept of "return hubs," which would be set up outside the EU's border, as a new and "innovative" aspect of its migration policy.
It has signaled that it is ready to put pressure on third countries to take back rejected asylum seekers, as well as punish those who do not cooperate.
The EU has already struck or is currently negotiating deals with countries like Tunisia, Mauritania, Egypt and Morocco, to help control migration towards Europe. In return for their cooperation, these countries would receive aid and investments..
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2026 03:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).