The European Union presented projects on Thursday aimed at fundamentally reforming its visa system and intensifying expulsions, as part of a five-year migration strategy which ratifies a tightening of the line on this sensitive subject.
According to the European Border Guard Agency, the irregular arrivals in the bloc of 27 fell by more than a quarter in 2025, but political pressure to act remains strong. "The priority is clear: to reduce the number of illegal arrivals and keep it low", said Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Migration.
The strategy unveiled Thursday emphasizes the need to increase evictions of asylum seekers rejected among the bloc's priorities."Abuses misrepresent migration: they undermine public trust and ultimately undermine our ability to provide protection while weakening our efforts to attract talent", Mr. Brunner said.
The European Parliament is currently examining a legal text proposed by the European Commission allowing the establishment of "return centers" outside the borders of the EU.
Criticized by human rights organizations, the proposal also provides for tougher sanctions against migrants refusing to leave European territory, including longer periods of detention.
European governments are under increasing pressure to take a tougher line, amid tougher public opinion on the migration issue, which fueled a rightward shift across the entire block.
"Failing approach"
The strategy also mentions the strengthening of a "offensive migration diplomacy" in order to convince third countries to prevent migrants from reaching Europe and to take back their nationals who do not have the right to stay there.
Brussels has recently concluded or is negotiating agreements with several countries from North Africa, including the Tunisia, the Mauritania, egypt and the Morocco, in which it obtains assistance in controlling migratory flows in exchange for financial assistance and investments.
Amnesty International called the EU approach "failing". She "only increases its dependence on third countries to manage migration, while making it complicit in possible human rights violations", said Olivia Sundberg Diez, a political analyst at the NGO.
Brussels also presented a brand new visa strategy, the stated objective of which is to use the granting of access to European territory as a diplomatic lever in the service of its political priorities.
It's about "one of the most powerful tools at our disposal", said a Commission source.
The EU particularly wishes to sanction countries which refuse to take back their nationals by restricting the issuance of visas, while relaxing procedures to attract qualified workers.
The Commission is expected to present a reform plan by the end of the year.
