Migration policy is high on the European Union’s agenda. But one month after the bloc’s new rules – known as the Pact on Migration and Asylum – came into force, is the EU beginning to see the desired results?
For Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, the answer was yes. In an interview with the European Newsroom (enr) published on Thursday, he said that member states have begun implementing the rules and that illegal border crossings into the EU already dropped by 37% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
In light of these figures and the new rules, the Austrian politician said it is now time to “gradually” abolish internal border controls between EU member states, such as ongoing controls in Germany and Austria. He argued that the EU’s external borders were now better protected and reiterated that the number of irregular border crossings had fallen dramatically.
Journalists also quizzed Brunner about the Entry/Exit System, a new digital entry and exit procedure for people who are not from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. While admitting concerns from member states and critics that the system is still causing trouble in some member states, he said that it is generally performing as expected.
A major issue, however, remains for professional truck drivers from countries in the Western Balkans, who need to enter the EU to deliver goods. Currently, they can only stay in the EU for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. As a solution, Brunner proposed to EU member states and Western Balkan countries to negotiate long-term visas bilaterally.
The interview was conducted by journalists from European Newsroom partner agencies dpa, APA, and CTK, on behalf of the entire network.
Read some of their coverage here:
- dpa (Germany) – EU Commissioner: It is time to lift German border controls
- APA (Austria) – Brunner: “It is time now to get rid of the internal border controls”
- CTK (Czech Republic) – Commissioner Brunner: The European Commission has a good working relationship with the Czech Republic regarding the Migration Pact
- PAP (Poland) – Commissioner: Migration Pact is working – the number of illegal border crossings has fallen by 37 per cent
- Tanjug (Serbia) – Brunner: EU and Western Balkan drivers to agree on visas, ETIAS has no start date
More impressions from the interview. Photos: Michael Brandt/dpa/European Newsroom