17 Jul 2025
The political atmosphere in Europe is changing, and the EU’s priorities are following suit. With a significant share of European Parliament seats now held by far-right parties, and far-right governments gaining ground across EU Member States, migration has become one of the most debated topics both in the media and at the EU level. Controlling migration has emerged as a top priority in European politics, and the new Danish Presidency is no exception. Under the umbrella terms of “security” and “combating organised crime”, the Danish Presidency has emphasised the need to strengthen external borders and increase the number of returns.
This political shift occurs at a time when European economies are increasingly reliant on the often invisible labour of migrants, the very individuals who keep critical sectors running, from construction to hospitality and domestic work. Despite growing concerns over “uncontrolled” migration, the EU’s unemployment rate stood at just 5.9% in May 2025, one of the lowest levels in the last 20 years.
The EU and its Member States are increasingly prioritising (and investing in) enforcement and restriction over protection and rights in their migration approach over the last months. This is also visible from the Danish presidency priorities announced. To mark the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement the EU Council issued a declaration signalling a tougher stance on migration, focused on border controls and returns “in a humane and dignified manner” – a principle we truly hope is upheld. In May, the European Commission further launched a biometric matching service, expanding facial recognition capabilities and the recording of biometric data across Member States. This raises serious concerns about racial profiling, data sharing, and increased reporting obligations for migrants.
On 19 May, the European Parliament and the Council reached political agreement on the Commission’s proposal for a progressive start of operations of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which was approved by the Parliament on 8 July. The EES will enhance the capacity of border and transport authorities to monitor people on the move through expanded data collection and biometric registration. It will record non-EU nationals’ entries and exits for short stays, with implementation expected over 180 days. Just a day later, the Commission proposed new rules to ease the application of the safe third country concept, removing the requirement for any meaningful connection between the applicant and the designated country, undermining human rights and ignoring migrants’ needs and agency.
Earlier this year, the Commission also proposed a Common European System for Returns, aimed at simplifying procedures and enabling mutual recognition of return decisions across the EU. The proposal includes measures to incentivise “voluntary” returns after government-issued return orders. LSI, alongside organisations such as PICUM and EuroMed Rights, has raised concerns about the human rights implications of the proposal on returns. The punitive measures outlined in the Pact on Migration and Asylum are further exacerbated by the new regulation. Particularly worrying is the door it opens to the establishment of deportation centres, historically known for the lack of clear legal safeguards, oversight, and respect for fundamental rights. No legal limits exist regarding the duration or conditions of detention in such centres, leaving migrants in legal limbo.
Across Europe, national governments are also adopting harsher measures that range from immigration raids in France, Belgium, and UK, to tightened criteria for permanent residence and work permits in Finland and Portugal, and the criminalisation of migration in Greece. Read more in PICUM’s newsletter.
While restrictive policies are on the rise, the EU continues to fall short in offering safe migration pathways. Without accessible legal options and without addressing the root causes of migration, people on the move are left with limited choices, increasing their vulnerability and the risk of exploitation and human trafficking.