• European Council, European Parliament agree on the first-ever EU-wide list of safe countries of origin

• Amnesty International warns that measures undermine ‘foundation of refugee protection’

LONDON

Immigration rules across Europe tightened markedly in 2025, as the EU and individual member states introduced tougher border controls and limited access to asylum amid heightened security concerns and shifting public sentiment.

Europe recorded a notable drop in irregular border crossings and asylum applications during the year, driven by closer cooperation with countries of origin and the rollout of new digital systems such as the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

On Dec. 18, the European Council and the European Parliament agreed on the first-ever EU-wide list of safe countries of origin, allowing member states to process applications for international protection more rapidly. The move aims to make asylum procedures faster and more effective for applicants considered unlikely to receive protection within the bloc.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia will be designated as safe countries of origin at the EU level. The rules are set to take effect in June 2026 alongside the broader Pact on Migration and Asylum, a major reform package intended to create a unified system for migration by strengthening external borders, streamlining asylum procedures and ensuring fair burden-sharing among member states.

Human rights organizations, however, raised concerns over the changes. Amnesty International warned that the measures undermine the "foundation of refugee protection."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban rejected implementation of the EU’s migration pact, saying his government would not spend "a single dime on them." Hungary maintains some of the toughest migration measures in the EU, including erecting border fences, limiting access to asylum procedures, and rejecting mandatory quotas for accepting people seeking protection.

Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic also opposed EU migration quotas, underlining that they would neither accept additional migrants nor pay compensation for refusing to do so.

In December, the European Council also reached an agreement on EU legislation concerning the return of irregular migrants. According to EU data, three out of four people issued return decisions continue to remain in the bloc.

The new rules allow for longer detention periods and extended entry bans.

Italy insists on Albania migration deal

The tougher stance reflects a broader shift in EU migration policy, marked by sharper rhetoric on tackling migration alongside concerns over the "instrumentalization of migration," "smuggling of migrants," and "human trafficking."

Despite EU-wide rules, individual member states continued to pursue national measures, often advocating tougher external policies such as return hubs. Controversy persisted over Italy’s 2023 migration deal with Albania, which aims to process asylum claims for migrants intercepted at sea in Italian-run centers located in Albania.

Although the deal was intended to speed up returns, implementation stalled due to legal challenges in Italian courts and at the EU level. Some migrants transferred to Albania were returned to Italy following legal interventions. In August, however, the EU’s top court ruled that national governments may lawfully determine which countries of origin are deemed "safe," provided such decisions remain subject to judicial review.

Last month, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni again defended the plan, saying that once the new EU migration pact comes into force, the Albanian centers will function as originally intended.

Italy also tightened rules on citizenship by descent, limiting the number of generations abroad eligible for automatic citizenship as part of a broader restrictive approach. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in May that many descendants of Italian emigrants would still qualify, but limits were needed to prevent abuse and the "commercialization" of Italian passports.

Austria, which expanded internal border controls within the Schengen Area several times in 2025, reported a high rate of deportations, including returns to Syria and Afghanistan for individuals no longer eligible for protection. The government also agreed to temporarily suspend family reunification for migrants and asylum beneficiaries, preventing those granted protection from bringing close family members while the suspension remains in place.

Ireland’s most significant overhaul

In Greece, the government approved a new migration law in September, introducing strict sanctions for rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants. It also suspended in July the processing of asylum applications from North Africa for three months, following a surge in arrivals.

Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), a non-governmental organization, voiced concerns over the suspension, citing conditions in detention centers, procedural shortcomings and arbitrary implementation.

Last month, Ireland approved one of the most significant overhauls of its migration and asylum system in the country’s history, aimed at managing rapid population growth and high asylum claims.

Under the new measures, individuals granted refugee status must now wait five years, up from three, before applying for citizenship. Residency and welfare conditions will be reviewed during that period, with applicants in employment favored.

The reforms also raise income thresholds for bringing non-EEA family members to Ireland, requiring applicants to demonstrate sufficient earnings and appropriate housing.

In Germany, the government approved a package of measures in June to tighten asylum laws, including steps to make it easier to designate "safe country" status. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt signaled stricter asylum rules, tougher border controls and a harder line on deportations.

"From day one, we took the decisions needed to make sure that border controls are tightened, people are turned away, and family reunifications are suspended," he said in an interview with DW last month.

The Baltic region has seen partial border closures, enhanced infrastructure, stricter entry criteria and targeted legal measures aimed at deterring irregular migration in the face of the impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Estonia installed gates and roadblocks at three Russian border crossings in September, enabling authorities to halt movement within seconds if necessary.

Latvia imposed partial restrictions at three eastern border checkpoints in March and extended visa and entry restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens until at least the end of 2026.

‘Earned settlement’ model

The UK pursued major policy shifts aimed at stopping small boat crossings and reducing overall migration. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to double the permanent settlement qualifying period to 10 years, "with reductions for those making a strong contribution to British life."

Under the new “earned settlement” system – described as the "biggest overhaul of legal migration model in 50 years" – migrants relying on benefits or arriving illegally face significantly longer waits for settlement, ranging from 20 to 30 years.

Meanwhile, more than 41,000 migrants have reportedly crossed the English Channel to the UK so far this year, despite an agreement with France intended to return migrants who reach Britain by small boats back to French territory.

According to the Home Office, the UK has removed nearly 50,000 people since July 2024.

The reelection of Donald Trump as US president in November 2024 is widely viewed as a key factor influencing public opinion and political pressure across Europe. In an interview with Anadolu following Trump’s victory, Steven Smith, the CEO of Care4Calais, a leading refugee charity, warned that his return would "normalize the appalling language" against refugees, further fueling the demonization of asylum seekers.

Since then, US officials have openly criticized European migration policies, with the Trump administration warning in early December that Europe faces "civilizational erasure."

Billionaire tech executive Elon Musk’s social media platform X has also faced accusations of amplifying migration-related debates and supporting far-right parties amid the growing popularity of anti-migration movements in elections during 2024 and 2025.

Europe’s tougher immigration stance has been widely portrayed in the media as reflecting Trump’s influence over the past year.