The European Union is actively reexamining its visa policies as part of a broader effort to manage migration and ensure that visa-free travel remains secure for those who legally qualify. During a recent press briefing in Brussels, Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, indicated that the bloc may reconsider the current rules that allow third-country nationals to enter without visas. The aim is to curb instances where the visa-free regime is used in ways that authorities view as improper or exploited rather than legitimate travel. The commissioner underscored a willingness to review the mechanism that suspends visa-free access if abuses persist, signaling that policy adjustments could be on the horizon for future decisions by member states and EU institutions. This stance was reported by the Policy Country Telegram channel among other outlets covering the event.
Johansson noted that a sizable share of those entering visa-free come from countries that are officially eligible for visa-free travel, a trend she described as an improper use of the system. She emphasized the need for safeguards to ensure that people who arrive under visa-free arrangements respect asylum and protection procedures as intended. In the same remarks, she drew attention to figures from 2022 indicating that roughly 200,000 individuals who benefited from visa-free entry sought refugee status in various European nations, highlighting the pressure on reception and asylum systems and the importance of accurate verification and timely processing.
On March 8, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen communicated in a letter to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that the EU plans to dedicate 500 million euros to support the admission of up to 50,000 refugees by 2025. Von der Leyen also indicated that migration policy questions are expected to be a focal point at the upcoming EU summit toward the end of the month, signaling coordinated action among member states. This pledge and the associated policy discussions come as the bloc continues to grapple with asylum workloads, border controls, and the broader responsibility to provide protection while maintaining orderly and lawful immigration procedures across the union.