Overview
- EU interior ministers voted to lower planned relocations under the 2024 pact from 30,000 to about 21,000 per year and to cut related funding from €600 million to roughly €420 million starting mid‑2026, pending European Parliament approval.
- Ministers also endorsed establishing deportation centers in third countries as part of efforts to accelerate returns.
- In Strasbourg, 27 of the Council of Europe’s 46 members backed a declaration seeking clearer treatment of ECHR Articles 3 and 8 to ease expulsions, with the UK’s Labour government joining the push.
- Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus opposed the EU cutbacks, while rights groups warn the hardening stance risks eroding protections for vulnerable people.
- Frontex reported a 22% year‑to‑date drop in irregular crossings to 152,000 through October, as the EU continues to fund partners in Africa and the Middle East to intercept migrants.