The European Union (EU) is preparing to change its migration policy with a focus on stricter deportation rules.

The European Commission is responding to demands from member states for tougher measures to handle migration. These changes will impact how the EU manages migration during a time of growing tensions at home and abroad.

Stricter deportation rules under consideration

The European Commission is preparing a directive to speed up the deportation of migrants who enter the EU illegally.

Set for release in February 2025, the proposal will outline the rights and responsibilities of migrants who have no legal basis to stay.

It also includes measures to improve oversight of individuals awaiting deportation, such as mandatory check-ins at designated centers.

These changes aim to fix a major problem: only 19% of people with deportation orders are currently removed from EU territory.

Offshore processing gains traction

A key part of the proposal is the creation of offshore processing centers, similar to Italy’s controversial centers in Albania.

These centers would hold migrants outside EU borders while their claims are reviewed, preventing them from disappearing within the borderless Schengen Area.

Human rights groups and some EU lawmakers oppose the idea, arguing that it violates fundamental rights. Supporters, including Denmark and Poland, view offshore centers as essential for reducing migration pressures.

However, the plan depends on reaching agreements with non-EU countries to host these centers, a task that has proven difficult in the past.

Increased deportations reflect changing migration policies

The EU’s shift in migration policy reflects rising domestic pressures.

Many member states, facing anti-immigrant sentiment and labor shortages, are pushing for policies that focus on control rather than integration.

Critics argue that this marks a broader move to the right in EU migration policy, driven by the growing influence of far-right parties across Europe.

Since the EU adopted the Return Directive in 2008, calls for stronger deportation measures have increased. 

However, enforcing these policies is often difficult due to legal, logistical, and ethical challenges, highlighting the struggle to balance security needs with humanitarian responsibilities.

A missed opportunity for collaboration?

As the EU tightens its borders, critics warn that it overlooks the root causes of migration, such as economic inequality, political instability, and climate change.

Advocacy groups say the EU’s “Fortress Europe: approach misses the chance to invest in development and create legal migration pathways for long-term solutions.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that climate change and conflict could displace 85 million people from sub-Saharan Africa by 2050.

Proponents of addressing these root causes believe this is key to managing migration in a sustainable way.

Migrants, visitors face new restrictions

The proposed changes could affect both short-term visitors and long-term migrants. 

Visitors may face stricter checks at borders, especially with the upcoming launch of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This system will pre-screen visa-free travelers as part of the EU’s effort to tighten controls.

For migrants, the impact could be greater. Tougher deportation rules might limit chances for legal residency, and offshore processing could create new challenges for asylum seekers.

Advocates suggest that establishing legal migration pathways could help fill labor shortages and address demographic issues, reducing tensions between host countries and migrants.

EU countries tighten immigration policies

The directive’s focus on deportation marks a move away from strategies centered on integration. EU officials admit that right-wing parties, including leaders like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, are driving this shift toward tougher measures.

However, this approach risks straining ties with African partners, many of whom criticize the EU’s reliance on external agreements.

Outsourcing migration control to countries like Tunisia and Morocco often causes tension. These countries, pressured to handle Europe-bound migrants, face risks to their own stability, which can harm regional development and cooperation.

Experts urge a balanced approach that combines stricter enforcement with investments in sustainable development.

Balancing security and opportunity

Migration is one of the EU’s most divisive issues, and the Commission’s proposed changes highlight the bloc’s difficulty in finding agreement.

Balancing security with opportunity requires tackling migration’s root causes while recognizing its economic potential.

The EU’s labor market, with shortages in areas like healthcare and engineering, shows the need for practical migration policies. Creating legal pathways for migrants could support the economy and ensure fair treatment.

Without changing the narrative, however, Europe risks staying stuck in a crisis-driven approach to this major challenge.

As the EU moves forward, its leaders must address these tensions. Migration is not only a security concern but also an opportunity to promote shared growth and stability. Whether the bloc can meet this challenge remains uncertain.