EU Presidency Proposed Targeted Migration Monitoring
The Irish Presidency aims to enforce readmission agreements for migrants whose asylum claims were rejected.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Immigration
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The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU has proposed a new system of targeted monitoring for third countries that fail to cooperate on migration readmissions. This initiative seeks to increase the efficiency of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum's border return procedure.
Why it matters
The proposal addresses concerns that insufficient cooperation from countries of origin regarding identity documentation could overwhelm and saturate current border procedures. By increasing political pressure, officials hope to ensure that the 12-week timeframe for return departures remains functional.
Returns to third countries rose to 135,460 in 2025, up from 72,200 in 2022. The plan targets nationalities with asylum recognition rates below 20 percent, strictly adhering to a 12-week deadline for departure organization.
The players
Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU
This body currently holds the rotating leadership of the Council and is responsible for setting the legislative agenda for the European Union.
JHA Council
The Justice and Home Affairs Council is a configuration of the Council of the European Union that brings together justice and interior ministers.
European Commission
This is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.
European External Action Service
The European External Action Service is the European Union's diplomatic service that manages the bloc's foreign and security policy.
The details
The strategy involves leveraging coordinated political pressure from Member States, the European Commission, and the European External Action Service to encourage better readmission cooperation. Authorities plan to integrate data from the Article 25a Visa Code annual report to identify and steer policy toward nations currently deemed uncooperative.
Timeline
In 2022, 72,200 returns to third countries were recorded.
In 2025, 135,460 returns to third countries were recorded.
The JHA Council is scheduled to meet on October 1, 2026.
Political Context
The proposal aims to provide the enforcement mechanisms necessary to make the border return procedures of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum fully operational. Critics may argue that such targeted political pressure could strain diplomatic relationships with key partner nations in the Global South.
The proposed monitoring system could result in stricter visa policies for citizens of countries deemed uncooperative on readmissions. This shift may alter travel and residency requirements for individuals based on their nationality and the official recognition rates of their country of origin.
The takeaway
The EU's move highlights an increasing focus on the effectiveness of return procedures as a central pillar of its migration strategy. Countries with low asylum success rates now face greater scrutiny regarding their diplomatic cooperation with the bloc.
Further reading
For more on evolving European border policies, visit Immigration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Agence Europe.
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