What is the European Commission’s role in migration management?
The European Commission proposes directives, regulations and recommendations for creating fair, efficient, and sustainable migration and asylum systems. It aims to align these systems across the EU, while supporting all EU countries in developing and implementing effective migration management and asylum procedures. In doing so, it provides operational responses on the ground, focusing particularly on countries most affected by migration.
In these countries, the Commission supports the national authorities with specialised teams, and works closely with EU Agencies, international organisations, and other related bodies in:
- managing the arrival of migrants
- setting up suitable migrant reception facilities
- carrying out relocations and other transfer mechanisms at EU level
- ensuring quick and efficient asylum and return procedures
- improving border management
- protecting unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups
- promoting integration policies for legally residing non-EU nationals
- developing legal pathways to migration through labour mobility
- creating partnerships against migrant smuggling networks
How does the European Commission finance migration management?
The Home Affairs funds constitute the financing mechanism that supports efficient management of migration in the EU. With a common approach to asylum and migration, they help manage the EU’s external borders and address significant internal security challenges. They consist of:
- The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (EUR 9.88 billion for 2021-2027): boosts national capacities and improves migration management procedures. It also supports solidarity and shared responsibility between EU countries, e.g. emergency assistance and the relocations mechanism.
- The Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument (EUR 6.7 billion for 2021-2027): promotes strong and effective integrated border management at the EU’s external borders. It ensures internal security in the EU while safeguarding the free movement of people within it.
- The Internal Security Fund (EUR 1.93 billion for 2021-2027): advances internal security across the EU. On migration management, it is involved in areas such as the fight against human trafficking and the dismantling of smuggler networks.
The EU system includes a mandatory, flexible and needs-based ‘solidarity mechanism’ to ensure Member States facing migratory pressure are not left alone, as well as clearer criteria to determine the Member State responsible for assessing an asylum application.
Implementing the legislation adopted under the Pact on Migration and Asylum has required considerable effort at EU and national level and will continue to require efforts following the entry into application of the new rules on 12 June 2026.
The digitalisation of border and migration management at EU level has taken a major step forward, with the operationalisation of the new Eurodac database, the European Search Portal (ESP) and the Common Identity Repository (CIR), enhancing border security and identity management across the EU.
Search and Rescue (SAR) activities are a key element of the European integrated border management. The Commission's Communication establishing the multiannual strategic policy for European integrated border management lays down priorities and strategic guidelines on SAR.