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EU ministers are moving to tighten migration policy, with new return rules, stronger Frontex powers, expanded border surveillance and deeper cooperation with countries of origin and transit. Is the EU handling migration effectively?
Migration was one of the main topics on the agenda of last week’s Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg.
This Council followed the Munich Migration Meeting on 26 September, where several ministers called for faster returns, stronger external border controls and a bigger operational role for Frontex.
On October 1st, the Council gave its final green light to new rules for more effective returns of people with no legal right to stay in the EU. These rules, due to enter into force in the coming weeks, complement the Pact on Migration and Asylum and support its implementation.
Commissioner Magnus Burnner also shared plans to strengthen Frontex and step up the use of drones and other technology for border surveillance and infrastructure protection, with an extra €130 million on top of the EU’s existing €250 million drone action plan.
He also wants the EU to do more migration diplomacy with key countries of origin and transit, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Gulf countries, Egypt, Libya, and Morocco, with the aim of addressing migration routes before people reach EU borders.
Leaders agreed to move ahead with the new EU return regulation and make return procedures faster and more effective, including through closer cooperation with countries such as Morocco.
