Remarks by Commissioner Brunner on the second Annual Migration Management Cycle

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, we are delivering on a core component of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

We are launching the second Annual Migration Management Cycle.

It builds on the positive results that we achieved during the last two years, notably the significant decrease of illegal migration to the EU. 

It confirms that our new approach on migration, with the new legal framework, stronger border protection, new rules on return and an active migration diplomacy, delivers results.

The Annual Cycle provides a yearly overview of the asylum and migration situation in the EU and assesses the migratory situation in the Member States.

And to ensure the balance between responsibility and solidarity keeps going, today we also propose the Annual Solidarity Pool for 2027.
Our reforms are delivering.

As I said, our new approach to migration is delivering strong results:

Illegal migration is down. Asylum applications are down. Unauthorised movements are down. And Returns are going up.

The numbers prove it. Illegal migration went down by 55% in the last two years and another third this year.

Western Balkans: -95% since 2022,

Western African and Central Mediterranean -80% since 2023.

You can also see the effect in the Member States:

Sweden: lowest numbers ever recorded.

Denmark: lowest in 40 years.

Austria: returns more people than it receives asylum claims from, for the first time in over two decades.

Germany: asylum applications down 80% compared to two years ago.While Member States still feel the consequences of illegal migration in one form or another, these figures show that every Member State benefits from the new approach, including the Pact.

Which brings me to my next point.
The Pact is up and running

By now, all Member States are applying the new rules of the Pact, helping to restore control and better prevent abuse of our systems, speed up procedures and decrease the pressure from illegal migration.

At the EU's external borders, all those arriving illegally are now apprehended, screened and registered.

By the way, it is the same logic that applies to those arriving legally: they are screened and registered in the new Entry Exit system.

Member States are putting the new border procedures to use, directly at the external borders. And the figures from the first weeks are encouraging. (if needed: over 15 000 until October)

That means faster decisions and swifter returns for those who have no right to stay, directly from the external borders.

All Member States are connected to the new Eurodac database, which helps to prevent abuse and gives us more control.

And that gives the Member States space to provide protection for those who really need it.

Now to the core of today's report:

Building on the strong results of the first cycle, today we launch the second Annual Migration Management Cycle.

The first cycle proved that the system works, rules are in force and solidarity delivers on what the Member States agreed last year.

Based on the data and information provided by the Member States and on our solid methodology, the report presents which Member States will have access to solidarity in the second cycle, and which are facing a significant migratory situation.

Under the new rules, no Member State is left alone to deal with illegal migration. Those facing a significant migratory situation can count on others to provide solidarity and support.

It is for the contributing Member States to decide how they contribute. Be it financial or other contributions, offsets or relocation.

At the same time, to benefit from solidarity, Member States must exercise their responsibility.

That is the core of the Pact: responsibility and solidarity go hand in hand.

To conclude, we have already achieved a lot in the last years.

But good policy never stops evolving.

Therefore, we will further build on our common foundations to ensure that we continue to restore control, and to build trust between Member States and with citizens.