Magnus Brunner

Nine European countries, including Belgium, France, and Germany, have urged the European Commission to extend emergency flexibility for the Entry/Exit System (EES) past September 2026, citing operational difficulties. The EES allows temporary suspension of biometric data collection during congestion, but member states report technical and operational issues causing travel disruptions during the summer season.

The European Commission is addressing delays caused by the new Entry/Exit System (EES) at EU airports, which uses biometric checks for non-EU travelers. Technical problems and insufficient infrastructure have led to long queues, prompting the Commission to collaborate with member states to resolve issues. The EES, mandatory since April 2025, has prevented thousands from entering the EU for rule violations.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, focusing on regional security, trade, and preparations for the July summit. The visit includes EU officials discussing issues like Iran, Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, and the 'middle corridor' trade route, despite ongoing political tensions and stalled EU accession talks with Turkey.

Three senior EU officials meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss security, migration, and connectivity ahead of a NATO summit. The EU's AD5 entry-level administrator admissions test is becoming more competitive, and a recent heatwave has exposed Europe's infrastructure challenges.

The EU has extended its temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war until March 2028. The extension excludes newly arriving Ukrainian men of military age, a decision made at the direct request of the Ukrainian government.

EU member countries agreed to impose visa restrictions on Somali citizens over readmission failures, following similar measures on Gambia and Ethiopia. The EU is overhauling migration policy, including establishing return hubs and deportation legislation.

The EU is implementing the European Migration and Asylum Pact, replacing a previous system criticized as a failure. The new rules include faster border screenings, expedited asylum procedures for those from 'safe' countries, and quicker returns for rejected applicants, but member states are not fully prepared. Human rights advocates warn the pact could worsen challenges for asylum-seekers.

The EU has implemented new migration rules to address shortcomings revealed during the 2015 migration surge. The reforms aim to increase control over border entries, distribute responsibilities among member states, and boost trust through a 10-reform Pact for Migration and Asylum, including the Eurodac database for tracking asylum seekers and a solidarity pool to support frontline countries.

Ukraine has requested the EU to exclude military-age men from temporary protection programs, as part of discussions to extend protections for Ukrainians until 2028. EU members remain divided on the proposal, and no final decision has been made.

The European Union is tightening migration controls ahead of new asylum rules set to take effect in June, with a focus on deporting migrants who are ordered to leave. The EU has struggled to deport most migrants, with only about one-quarter to one-third actually being returned. European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner says the bloc is working to get control back.

The European Union is tightening migration controls ahead of new asylum rules set to take effect in June, after years of struggling to deport migrants ordered to leave. European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said deportations have increased and new border screening systems are identifying potential security threats. The EU's long-debated migration and asylum pact aims to close the gap by accelerating asylum decisions and expanding return mechanisms.