Europe’s Hardening Stance on Migration

 

European leaders across the political spectrum are adopting a tougher approach to undocumented migration, with some aiming to replicate Denmark’s “zero asylum seeker” model. E.U. officials are drafting new regulations that would facilitate the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries.

According to preliminary data from Frontex, the E.U.’s border agency, migrant arrivals declined by approximately 20 percent in the first five months of 2025, continuing a sharp drop from last year. Meanwhile, deportations are gradually increasing. However, some migration routes—such as those from Libya to Greece—remain active and challenging.

Background: This policy shift has been driven by growing voter backlash, which has bolstered nationalist, far-right, and populist parties. The reaction follows the influx of over a million asylum seekers—primarily Syrians, Iraqis, and Afghans—who arrived in Europe during the refugee crisis a decade ago.