The Commission presents a five-year strategy on migration

The Commission is today presenting the first European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy. It sets out the EU’s policy objectives on asylum and migration and will serve as a compass with concrete priorities for the next five years.

The EU has openeda new chapter on migration and asylum, building on and consolidating the substantial progress made in protecting our external borders, conducting assertive migration diplomacy, including our strategic and global partnerships with partner countries, and implementing the reforms introduced by the Pact on Migration and Asylum. All these factors have contributed to a steady decline in illegal migration and better management of migration in recent years.

The Strategy reaffirms the Union’s determination to establish a framework that is fair and firm and that effectively manages migration together with partner countries, offering solutions while remaining faithful to European values. It affirms the principle that it is Europe that decides who comes to the EU and under what circumstances.

The Strategy sets out the way forward to achieve three main objectives: preventing illegal migration and disrupting the business of criminal smuggling networks; protecting people fleeing war and persecution, while preventing abuse of the system; and attracting talentto the EU to boost the competitiveness of our economies.

To achieve this, the Strategy focuses on five priorities:

1. Intensifying migration diplomacy

We will continue to strengthen assertive migration diplomacy that promotes the EU’s interests and values. Managing migration is a global challenge that requires us to work in solidarity while ensuring a fair sharing of responsibility. The Commission will step up its efforts, together with Member States, to increase cooperation with international partners:

• Promoting global and mutually beneficial partnerships that ensure effective and rights-based cooperation on migration.
• Use incentives and levers across all sectors and policy areas, such as visa policy, trade and financial support.
• Applying a comprehensive approach that helps partners build resilient and humane migration and asylum frameworks, in particular by providing protection closer to countries of origin. Multipurpose centres along the routes can offer innovative ways to manage migration with partner countries.
• Continue to step up the global fight against migrant smuggling to prevent dangerous journeys, in particular through the strengthened Global Alliance, new tools to track digital and illicit financial activities, and a new sanctions regime.
• Promote protection pathways and support returns from third countries to help reduce pressure on partners and protect them from traffickers’ abuses.

2. Strong EU borders to improve control and security

Strong EU borders that ensure effective control over who enters our Union are fundamental to the EU’s migration policy and to preserving the Schengen area. To maintain and build on the progress made so far, we will:

• Roll out the world’s most advanced digital border management system, with the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the launch of the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
• Examine all illegal arrivals in the Union and apply border procedures at our external borders under the Pact from June this year.
• Continue to strengthen the role of Frontex with a revision of its basic regulation.

3. A robust, fair and adaptable asylum and migration system

The Pact on Migration and Asylumis the basis of the EU’s asylum and migration policy, ensuring greater protection of external borders, strict rules against abuse and a balance between responsibility and solidarity. Its implementation, enforcement and further development will require continued focus in the coming years. This includes:

• Helping national authorities to implement the new rules with dedicated Commission teams in the countries and an additional €3 billion in funding to establish efficient procedures and better prevent unauthorised secondary movements.
• Following the adoption of the first solidarity envelope, ensuring continued solidarity for Member States under pressure.
• Further strengthening and complementing the Pactto adapt to new challenges, for example with the modified concept of safe third country, the EU list of safe countries of origin and exploring additional measures to introduce innovative aspects.

4. More effective return and readmission

Rapid, effective and dignified return is essential for the smooth functioning and credibility of our migration and asylum system. Given that currently only around a quarter of those ordered to leave actually return, there is an urgent need to increase the effectiveness of the EU return system. To this end, we will continue to work on:

• Building a common European return system, based on the proposed Return Regulation currently under negotiation, with more efficient rules, digitalised processes and new innovative aspects such as the establishment of return centres.
• Improving readmission by third countries, using and strengthening the EU’s toolbox to promote cooperation.

5. Labour and talent mobility to boost competitiveness

Over the next five years, skills gaps and labour shortages will become more acute in many key sectors, also driven by demographic dynamics. The EU must aspire to become the most attractive place in the global race for talent. To achieve this, it will be necessary to:

• Expanding existing partnerships and launching new ones on talent, and fully integrating talent acquisition into the EU’s global cooperation with partner countries.
• Simplifying and speeding up the rules and process for attracting the skills Europe needs, in particular in terms of the recognition and validation of qualifications and skills.
• Combat illegal employment and exploitation of migrant workers and improve integration in host Member States, with the support of EU funding.

The Strategy also promotes the full use of the potential of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in asylum and migration management, with the creation this year of an AI Forum on Migration. The aim is to provide Member States with modern, more secure and efficient tools to improve the quality, consistency and timeliness of decision-making, as well as to enhance security, while improving services for individuals.

To support the implementation of this Strategy, the Union will make strategic use of Union funding, as set out in the Commission’s proposals for the next multiannual financial framework 2028-2034. This includes a proposal to allocate a total amount of at least €81 billion to home affairs policies and a Global Europe instrument, designed to adapt to a more strategic approach to international partnerships, in line with the EU’s strategic interests, including in the area of migration. EU agencies will provide enhanced operational support to Member States.

All actions undertaken under the Strategy are based on respect for fundamental rights in accordance with the Charter and are in line with our international obligations.

Background

The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation requires Member States to have national strategies in place to ensure their capacity to effectively implement their asylum and migration management systems. It also requires the Commission to develop a long-term European asylum and migration management strategy setting out the strategic approach to ensure the coherent implementation of national strategies at Union level.
The Strategy takes into account the views expressed by the European Parliament, Member States and various stakeholders, including the experience of EU agencies.

Morer information: European Commission.