European leaders are set to discuss stricter migration policies this week, a move critics say caters to far-right pressure and risks undermining protections for vulnerable migrants.
Ministers from the 27 EU member states convened in Brussels to address migrant smuggling, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivering a keynote speech. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe, representing 46 countries from Iceland to Azerbaijan, is debating measures to make deportations easier for treaty signatories.
Last year, nine countries—including Denmark, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Poland—attempted to limit the authority of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that its interpretation of human rights obligations hindered efforts to expel migrants who commit crimes. That effort failed, though support for its principles has grown. The ECHR handles complaints under the European Convention on Human Rights, including many related to migrants and asylum seekers.
Centrist and left-leaning parties are increasingly backing tougher migration rules as a way to counter far-right political momentum. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in an op-ed that their approach targets economic migrants rather than refugees fleeing conflict, framing it as a practical, humane solution rather than political opportunism.
Despite unauthorized border crossings into the EU dropping 22% from January to October, migration remains a pressing concern. Frontex recorded 152,000 irregular entries during that period, while most migrants arrive legally, often overstaying visas.
The EU has invested billions to curb irregular migration, funding interception programs in Africa and the Middle East, yet member nations also face labor shortages and an aging population, prompting efforts to attract foreign workers legally.
Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset emphasized the importance of safeguarding individual rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, warning that the convention’s integrity is inseparable from Europe’s broader direction.
The upcoming meetings in Brussels and Strasbourg will signal whether European nations prioritize stricter migration enforcement or maintain a balance between security and human rights protections.