Less migration, more repatriation: Has the EU got tough on borders?

The EU seems to be acting upon its promises to tighten border control.

Fewer migrants are entering the EU than a few years ago, while repatriation orders are on the rise.

This is according to newly released Eurostat data, which reflects what appears to be a medium-term trend, rather than a temporary turn.

Since 2022, the number of new migrants entering the EU has consistently decreased, from 5.4 million to 4.5 million in 2024 (-24%).

In 2025, the number of asylum seekers granted protection status also shrank, reaching 361,000, the lowest level since 2019.