EMN Border management and irregular migration

Austria
Temporary reintroduction of border controls
On 15 October, Austria temporarily reintroduced border controls at its internal borders with the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, allowing crossings only at designated points until 15 April 2025 to ensure public peace, order and security. Similarly, on 11 November, Austria reinstated border controls at its borders with Slovenia and Hungary, with the same restrictions in place until 11 May 2025.

Belgium
Priority plan to counter migrant smuggling agreed
On 10 December, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, in the presence of the European Commission and its agencies, Europol and Frontex, agreed on a five-point priority plan to tackle irregular migration and migrant smuggling in 2025. Key priorities include targeting illicit financial flows that sustain smuggling networks and tackling organised crime groups' use of social media to advertise the dangerous journey across Europe and the Channel.

Estonia
Additional funding for border management secured
On 11 December, the European Commission approved granting an additional € 19.4 million to strengthen border management in Estonia. The funds will be used for upgrading electronic surveillance equipment, improving telecommunication networks, deploying mobile identification devices, and countering drone attacks. These measures aim to ensure real-time situational awareness and enhance the mobility of border patrols.

Finland
Additional funding for eastern border surveillance secured
In December, Finland was set to receive € 50 million in additional funding from the European Commission to strengthen surveillance at the eastern border. Finland’s 1 340-kilometre-long border with Russia is also an external border of the EU. More effective surveillance of the border will strengthen the security of the EU as a whole in the changing landscape of hybrid threats and instrumentalised migration.

France
Readmission agreement with Kazakhstan signed
On 5 November, France and Kazakhstan signed a readmission agreement, which aims to strengthen cooperation in combating irregular migration. It provides for the readmission of Kazakhstani nationals, as well as nationals of third countries or stateless persons holding a Kazakhstani residence permit or having transited through Kazakhstan, provided they have not been granted asylum in France.

Internal border controls until April 2025 extended
In November, the French government notified the European Commission and six neighbouring states (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland) that it will maintain border checks on land, air and sea routes from 1 November until at least April 2025 due to security threats and irregular migration concerns.

Latvia
European integrated border management
On 18 December, the Integrated Border Management Plan of the Republic of Latvia 2024 – 2028 was adopted. The plan’s strategic objectives and orientations are drawn from the multiannual strategic policy of European Integrated Border Management and the Technical and Operational Strategy for European Integrated Border Management 2023-2027, and contribute to the implementation of the European Integrated Border Management principles at national level.

Luxembourg
European Schengen Information System regulations recently implemented
On 24 December, the Law of 18 December, implementing several European regulations relating to the Schengen Information System (SIS) came into force. The Law also defines the competent authorities to enter reports of persons in the SIS.

The Netherlands
Airport transit visa requirement
From 25 November, passengers with nationality of Chad, Senegal, Mauritania and the Central African Republic will be subject to an airport transit visa requirement. Since October, there has been a significant increase in the number of passengers from these countries seeking asylum at Dutch airports. As a result, passengers from these countries must now hold an airport transit visa if they are travelling to a destination outside the Schengen area.

Internal border controls introduced
In order to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling, the Netherlands have temporarily reintroduced internal EU border controls which started on 9 December, for a period of six months.

Poland
Border zone temporary ban extended for another 90 days
The Ministry of the Interior and Administration extended the temporary ban on staying in the border zone adjacent to Belarus for another 90 days, effective from 10 December. The measure, initially introduced to reduce migratory pressure, has led to a 41% decrease in migration after almost 180 days of operation.

Additional funding for Poland for border protection
In December, the European Commission announced the allocation of an additional € 52 million for measures to strengthen the protection of Poland’s border with Russia and Belarus under the Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument 2021-2027.