Migration in Europe

The unprecedented arrival of refugees and irregular migrants in the EU, which peaked in 2015, required an EU response on a number of levels. Firstly, policies to handle regular and irregular immigration, and secondly, common EU-wide rules on asylum. The migrant influx also resulted in a need for additional measures and reforms to ensure border security as well as a fairer distribution of asylum seekers among EU countries.

The migration issue
In recent years, Europe has had to respond to the most severe migratory challenge since World War II. In 2015, 1.25 million first-time asylum applicants were registered in the EU; by 2018, this figure had dropped to 581,000 applicants. In 2018, 116,647 people reached Europe by sea, compared to more than one million in 2015. In 2018, the total number of illegal border-crossings into the EU dropped to 150,114, its lowest level in five years and 92% below the peak of the migratory crisis in 2015.

While migration flows have subsided, the crisis has exposed shortcomings in the European asylum system. Parliament has sought to combat this by reforming EU asylum rules as well as strengthening EU border controls.

Read our articles about the migrant crisis in Europe and EU measures to manage migration.

European immigration policy
The immigration policy at European level deals both with legal and irregular immigration.  Regarding regular immigration, the EU decides on conditions for legal entry and residence. Member states keep the right to rule on admission volumes for people coming from non-EU countries to seek work.

The European Union tackles also irregular immigration, especially through a return policy that respects fundamental rights. With regards to integration, there is no harmonisation of national legislations. However, the EU can play a supporting role, especially financially.

The European Parliament is actively involved, in the adoption of new laws on irregular and regular immigration. It is a full co-legislator together with the Council representing member states on these matters since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.

For greater details please read the fact sheet on the EU’s immigration policy.

European Asylum policy
Since 1999, the EU has been working to create a Common European Asylum System (CEAS). For the common system to work, it must have:

• consistent rules for granting refugee status across all member states
• a mechanism for determining which member state is responsible for considering an asylum application
• standards on reception conditions
• partnerships and cooperation with non-EU countries

With the Lisbon Treaty the European Parliament decides on an equal footing with the Council of the EU on asylum-related legislation.

Check out our fact sheet on the EU asylum policy for more information.

Compliments of the European Parliament