EU migration policy changes

In late July 2026 the European Union introduced a new Migration and Asylum Pact that expands biometric registration, border detentions and accelerated deportations, while outsourcing coastal patrols to third‑country forces such as Libya. The pact, effective from 12 June, has drawn criticism from human‑rights groups for alleged breaches of the Geneva Convention. At the same time the EU announced plans to raise air‑travel fees to non‑EU destinations, a move critics say could alienate younger voters.

Two days later the EU’s broader migration framework was highlighted, emphasizing principles of solidarity, shared responsibility and human‑rights compliance. The narrative shifted to the economic dimension of migration, noting the entrepreneurial potential of migrant women and the barriers they face. The EU’s Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021‑2027 was cited as a mechanism to provide financing, training and advisory support to help migrant entrepreneurs, particularly women, contribute to the bloc’s ageing‑society labour market.