EU Ramps Up Border, Visa Funding Push
Mar 23, 2026
Category: Border and Security EU European Commission News Policy
The European Commission is putting over €1.7 billion into a new plan to upgrade how the EU handles borders, migration, and safety. Since 2021, they have funded several projects to make these systems stronger.
The Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs shared a list of “Specific Actions” to give member countries money for top-priority goals.
This initiative helps countries work together on visas, police cooperation and migration. The Commission sees this as a tool to fix problems that affect the whole EU.
Funding targets urgent priorities
The Commission described the programme as a way to deliver “tangible support” with “real impact,” positioning it as a flexible funding mechanism for member states facing immediate pressures.
Specific Actions provide additional allocations to national programmes, allowing governments to roll out projects that align with EU-wide priorities.
These projects are selected to respond to urgent needs, trial new approaches or improve cooperation between countries.
The funding comes from the Thematic Facility budgets of three EU instruments: the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Border Management and Visa Instrument, and the Internal Security Fund.
Together, these funds underpin efforts to manage migration flows, secure external borders and strengthen internal safety.
The Commission said that the scheme is designed to give member states the ability to act quickly while maintaining coordination at EU level.
Five focus areas
The series sets out five key areas where Specific Actions are being deployed.
One area centres on support for Romania and Bulgaria as they prepare for accession to the Schengen area. Funding is directed at strengthening border controls and aligning systems with Schengen requirements.
Another focuses on improving cooperation between EU countries on visa policy. This includes efforts to streamline processes and ensure consistency in how visas are issued and monitored.
Law enforcement cooperation is also a priority. Projects in this area aim to boost coordination between national authorities, with the goal of improving responses to cross-border crime and security threats.
Migration management forms a fourth pillar, with targeted support aimed at ensuring processes are fair and dignified while remaining effective.
The final area looks at policy innovation, encouraging member states to test new approaches and develop solutions that can be scaled across the EU.
Programme scale expands
Since the first Specific Action was launched in 2021, the Commission has issued 39 calls for proposals or expressions of interest. These calls have resulted in the selection of projects worth more than €1.7 billion.
Projects are launched through either competitive calls or targeted invitations, depending on the nature of the initiative. This allows the Commission to direct funding towards areas where it sees the greatest need or potential impact.
Borders go digital
The expansion of EU funding for border management and visa systems is set to reinforce the rollout of both the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
The EES, which began operations on 12 October 2025 and is being phased in until April 2026, relies on digital data collection at external borders to track non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area.
Additional funding for border management and law enforcement cooperation is likely to support the infrastructure and coordination needed for this rollout, particularly as data collection expands across member states.
The focus on visa policy cooperation also aligns with the introduction of ETIAS, which is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026 and will require visa-exempt travellers from 59 countries to obtain authorisation before entering 30 European countries.
Together, the funding measures strengthen the systems that underpin both EES and ETIAS, from border checks to data-sharing between authorities, as the EU moves towards a more digital and coordinated entry framework.
Funding shapes EU response
The EU is using these Specific Actions to build a more unified approach to migration and border security. With over €1.7 billion already in play, this program helps member states meet shared goals.
By matching flexible funding with clear priorities, the Commission ensures countries work together to fix migration systems. As the programme grows, it will stay central to how the EU handles new security challenges.