To deport illegal migrants, the readiness of other countries to accept them is necessary.
In 2025, the EU deported a record 28% of migrants subject to deportation. Thus, out of more than 491,000 people required to leave the EU, about 135,000 were deported last year, reports Deutsche Welle. This is the highest figure in the last decade, stated EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner in an interview with Die Welt am Sonntag. For comparison, in 2022, this figure was 16%.
Brunner attributed the record numbers to the consistent actions of member states, greater stability in some host countries, and an improved information system. However, the commissioner considered the figure achieved in 2025 to be "unsatisfactory." "The old rules for deporting illegal migrants from the EU are simply not effective enough," noted Brunner.
According to the EU Commissioner, the countries to which migrants are deported must be ready to accept them. For this, the EU "strategically uses its leverage," he indicated. "Visa policy, trade, and finance for development will be more closely linked to cooperation on migration in the future," said Brunner.
