EU Commissioner Brunner expects “highest deportation rate since 2019”

Berlin (dpa) – The EU Commission assumes there was a significant increase in deportations from the European Union in the past year. “The deportation rate rose in the first three quarters from 19 percent in 2023 to 27 percent in 2025. This means that in 2025 we will likely reach the highest deportation rate since 2019,” said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner to the newspaper “Welt am Sonntag.” Nevertheless, this is “by far still not enough,” the Austrian reportedly added.

“We must combat illegal migration on all fronts. This means consistent deportations of those who have forfeited the right to remain in the EU,” explained the EU Commissioner. According to Brunner, this also means “the rapid rejection of people with little chance of asylum” as well as “close cooperation with third countries so that people do not embark on dangerous escape routes in the first place.”

At the beginning of December, the EU states reached far-reaching agreements in Brussels on key issues of migration policy. Among other things, they want to increase pressure on rejected asylum seekers and handle deportations more efficiently. Return centers in third countries outside the EU are also to be possible in the future. (January 3)