EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has laid out a bold migration agenda in a letter to member states ahead of the European Council summit. Over the next three months, her focus will be on speeding up deportations through her proposed “Returns Directive,” crafted to address member states’ concerns voiced in October.
Von der Leyen’s approach hinges on cutting bureaucratic hurdles, enhancing Frontex’s operational capabilities, and introducing “innovative” strategies like establishing deportation hubs outside EU borders. She cited Italy’s “Albania-protocol” as a model for these return centers.
The proposed legislation will have two components. The first aims to resolve issues flagged by member states, while the second seeks to modernize the EU’s returns management system through digital solutions.
EU nations have been clamoring for stricter migration controls since adopting the Migration Pact earlier this year. While the pact was billed as a comprehensive solution, its shortcomings quickly became apparent, particularly in areas like external border management, deportations, and curbing secondary movements within the Schengen zone. The Returns Directive, as von der Leyen positions it, is intended to complement—not replace—the Migration Pact, despite mounting pressure from the Patriots, the EU Parliament’s third-largest political group, to scrap the pact entirely.
Von der Leyen underscored that implementing the Migration Pact remains a “top priority” for the Commission, even though it won’t officially take effect until 2026. She called for early adoption of key measures to address migration issues, likely aiming to prevent member states from aligning with the Patriots and abandoning the pact altogether. However, some governments have already resisted, missing the December 12 deadline to submit implementation roadmaps.
Tensions over migration were evident at a pre-summit gathering before the last European Council meeting. Hosted by Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands, the meeting brought together leaders from Austria, Cyprus, Poland, and other nations to hash out a unified approach. Reports suggest the same group plans to reconvene to scrutinize von der Leyen’s proposals ahead of Thursday’s summit.
As the debate intensifies, von der Leyen’s push for urgent reforms aims to bridge divides, though her proposals are already sparking controversy among member states. Whether her “innovative” solutions can win over skeptics remains to be seen.
