The proposed measures also include strict sanctions for those who are illegally present in the EU, including imprisonment. The bill has received support from conservatives and right-wing parties. The final vote on this initiative is expected to take place on March 12.
The European Parliament building in Strasbourg. Photo: Ardan Fuessmann/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance.
According to information from the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), published in early March, the number of asylum applications in EU countries decreased by 19% in 2025 compared to the previous year, totaling 822,000. The European Commission links this decline to the tightening of migration policy. Of those who received a return order, only about 20% actually leave the country. In 2024, the UK passed a law allowing for the deportation of illegal migrants to Rwanda, while Italy ratified an agreement with Albania to establish two centers for migrants. These decisions have faced criticism from the media and human rights organizations, which point to the risks of human rights violations when deporting migrants to third countries.
