EU expands migration partnership with Libya and North African states

The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, announced plans to deepen cooperation with Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco to curb irregular migration across the Mediterranean. The proposal, outlined in a letter to EU member states before a summit in Brussels, calls for stronger border management, enhanced search‑and‑rescue capacity and tighter migration control in the partner countries.

EU data show more than 65,000 migrants left Libya in 2025. In the first half of 2026, about 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Libya, mainly from Sudan, Somalia and Bangladesh. Overall irregular arrivals to the EU have fallen roughly 40 % compared with the previous year, a trend the Commission wants to accelerate. The initiative is part of the new Migration and Asylum Pact and coincides with stricter asylum and deportation rules that the EU recently enacted. The Mediterranean crossing remains hazardous, with at least 1,300 deaths reported this year.

The EU argues that closer ties with transit countries are essential for managing migration flows, safeguarding borders and reducing the humanitarian risks of dangerous sea journeys.