Additionally, the proposed bills include tightening sanctions for foreigners with illegal residency status in EU countries, including the possibility of imprisonment. This legislation has received support from both conservatives and representatives of far-right parties. A final vote on these initiatives is expected to take place on March 12.
The building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: Ardan Fuessmann/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance.
According to data from the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), published in early March, the number of asylum applications in EU countries decreased by 19% in 2025 compared to the previous year, totaling 822,000. The European Commission links this decline to the tightening of migration policies. At the same time, less than 20% of foreigners who received orders to leave the country return to their homeland. In 2024, the UK passed a law allowing for the deportation of illegal migrants to Rwanda, while Italy ratified an agreement to establish two centers for migrants in Albania. These decisions have faced criticism from the media and human rights defenders, who point to the risks of human rights violations when deporting migrants to third countries.
