Internal border controls as a last resort
EU countries have been reinstating border controls within the Schengen area over the last few years, and these controls often last for long periods.
In order to preserve free movement while addressing genuine security threats, the Commission put forward a proposal in 2021 to revise rules for the Schengen area. The amended rules clarify that the reintroduction of border controls remains a last resort.
EU countries may exceptionally reintroduce controls when there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security. Such controls would be limited to a period of up to one month and can only be prolonged up to three months in the case of unforeseeable threats. In the case of foreseeable threats, such controls may remain from six months to two years.
As an alternative to internal border controls, the new rules promote police cooperation in border regions to address unauthorised movements within the Schengen area. Apprehended non-EU citizens with irregular status often arrive from another EU country, so if the two countries hold joint patrols, the irregular migrants may be transferred back to the first EU country. MEPs ensured that several categories, including unaccompanied minors, were excluded from such returns.
Improving pathways for legal migration
Safe alternatives for asylum seekers
Since 2015, EU-sponsored resettlement schemes have helped more than 119,000 vulnerable people in need of international protection find shelter in the EU.
Resettlement is a safe and legal alternative to irregular journeys for asylum seekers and is based on referrals by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
Under the 2024-2025 EU Resettlement and Humanitarian admission scheme, 14 EU countries have pledged to resettle 61,000 people.
Resettlement is also an important element of the EU-Türkiye agreement on migration management. Since March 2016, more than 40,000 Syrians have been resettled to EU countries.
In addition to these schemes, as part of the overhaul of the asylum and migration system, in 2016 the Commission proposed a Union Resettlement Framework which would see the EU move away from ad hoc resettlement schemes and adopt a two- year EU resettlement and humanitarian admission plan.
As part of the plan EU countries will offer resettlement voluntarily to particularly vulnerable people. The plan would outline the maximum total number of persons to be admitted, the contributions of EU countries and the overall geographical priorities.
MEPs confirmed their support for the agreement on a new EU Resettlement framework in April 2024.
Work permits for economic migrants
The EU has also been working to boost legal migration to address labour shortages, fill skill gaps and boost economic growth with: