Europe: Migration policy news in Portugal

The European Achilles' heel in the geopolitical dispute

Two developments in EU migration law

Commission wants to expand Frontex powers beyond EU borders

The proposed revision of the mandate for the agency that monitors the EU's external borders opens the door to its intervention in migrant return processes outside of European territory.

Frontex suspends reintegration program after blowing through its budget

The pause comes ahead of a proposed expansion of the EU border agency's role in returns, sharpening questions over how Brussels will fund its tougher deportation policy.

The EU budget battle just got nastier

Germany has rejected Ireland’s proposal for the EU’s next seven-year budget, despite €159 billion in cuts. And it’s not alone: Governments are divided over where the cuts should fall, while the European Parliament is threatening to block the deal. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the backlash and what it means for this week’s EU ...

Montenegro defended the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in Split as a response to the crisis in Ceuta.

Montenegro advocates for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact during the summit in Split, noting that Portugal will lead the group of southern European countries in 2027.

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“We are losing the best people” on the route to Europe: 15 years of NovAfrica

The Nova SBE centre has accumulated experience in Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and The Gambia, among others. The results contradict the direction of European migration policies. Cátia Batista and Pedro Vicente, the centre's founders, take stock in an interview with Expresso.

Unacceptable

To resolve the chaos in the city, some will be deported, while others will enter the Schengen area.

Morocco assures the EU it will accept the return of all migrants who entered Ceuta

Negotiators from all European Parliament groups - with the exception of the far-right - had planned to meet this afternoon to try to move forward with a joint text regarding the crisis in Ceuta

Rangel criticises measures with a 'pull factor' for migrants in Ceuta

Paulo Rangel, speaking during a parliamentary hearing at the European Affairs Committee, was alluding to the extraordinary regularisation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants promoted by the Spanish government.

Asylum applications plummet across EU as governments push for deportation hubs

“Europe’s new migration policy is delivering results,” said Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner.

There is an elephant in the room that the Spanish government does not want to discuss, which is the role of Morocco

Legal expert Gonçalo Dorotea Cevada analyses the situation in Ceuta and how Europe can deal with the arrival of migrants.

European right-wing parties demonstrate in solidarity with Ceuta

Right-wing and far-right parties gathered near the European Parliament to demand a response to the migration crisis in Ceuta, holding socialist Pedro Sánchez responsible.

Spain moves forward with a 309 million euro 'shock plan' to tackle the migration crisis in Ceuta

The Spanish government has announced a 309 million euro emergency plan to address the migration and humanitarian crisis in Ceuta. The investment, representing 16% of the city's annual GDP, will be deployed over four months to bolster security, provide humanitarian aid for over 1,200 unaccompanied minors, and support local businesses affected by the crisis. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo noted significant economic downturns in the city, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez indicated that most remaining migrants will be returned to Morocco.

Paulo Portas criticises Sánchez over Ceuta crisis

Paulo Portas attended the PSD Summer University. Without speaking directly about the Social Security study, the former president of the CDS argues that Europe needs to hold a debate on demographics to avoid the growth of 'radicalisms'.

Migration: Much more than just arriving in Europe

According to United Nations data, the global estimate for mid-2024 stands at approximately 304 million international migrants, representing 3.7% of the world's population. While migration is a central topic in European political debate, the data shows that most migration occurs within regions or between neighbouring countries, rather than towards Europe. The article highlights that the majority of the world's refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries, and argues that addressing the root causes of migration—such as poverty, inequality, and climate change—is essential for a long-term, effective policy.

Sweden has also started transferring illegal migrants to Italy

Sweden has decided to transfer illegal migrants to Italy under the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, following in the footsteps of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Finland.

Ceuta authorities move thousands of migrants to temporary shelters

Thousands of migrants who were homeless on Trampolín beach and in the Loma Colmenar area of Ceuta began being moved to temporary shelters this Thursday (20 August). According to El País, spaces were made available to initially accommodate 1,800 migrants, with the Spanish government stating the transfers are taking place voluntarily. The operation is being coordinated by state security forces and the Ceuta government to provide housing alternatives for those sleeping in public spaces or on the beach. Migrants were grouped by language to be informed of the process, with reports of relief as they were moved to facilities such as Loma Margarita. This follows a major migration crisis in late July, during which approximately 72,000 people entered the Spanish autonomous city in 24 hours, with most having since returned to Morocco.

Reinforcements sent back to Ceuta to prevent another mass migration

CNN Portugal reporter Helena Lins is in Ceuta and explains the measures taken by the Spanish government to prevent a new migration crisis in the region.

Migrant deaths in the Mediterranean have tripled

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that migrant deaths in the Central Mediterranean doubled and tripled in the Eastern Mediterranean during the first four months of 2026 compared to the previous year, despite a significant drop in arrivals to Europe. The report highlights that while migration routes are shifting due to stricter border controls, the risks of death, exploitation, and trafficking remain high, particularly as departure points move to more remote and dangerous areas.

Former European Commissioner considers crisis in Ceuta a hybrid attack against the EU

Former European Commissioner Thierry Breton stated that the situation in Ceuta was not a migration crisis, but the first large-scale 'algorithmic hybrid attack' against the EU's external border. He is calling for an urgent investigation under the Digital Services Act to determine how social media content triggered the influx, arguing that targeted disinformation can now cause human and political shocks equivalent to military operations.

A spat between Meloni and Sánchez or a European crisis? — Debate

Italy and Spain retaliate with passenger checks following the migration crisis in Ceuta. A standoff between Meloni and Sánchez or a new wound in the Schengen Area?

Ceuta, an open city

11,000 people remain on the beaches and streets of Ceuta, who cannot be 'returned'.

Rwanda in negotiations to receive migrants deported from European countries

The Rwandan government announced this Friday that “preliminary discussions” have begun with several European countries to serve as a transit country for deported migrants.

Ceuta did not threaten Europe. Europe's response did

Last week, thousands attempted to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. While the incident exposed border management flaws, it was not an 'invasion' of Europe. Instead of showing solidarity, many European leaders used the crisis to attack Spain's migration policies, revealing a dangerous shift where political alignment dictates European unity and Schengen becomes a political bargaining chip, ultimately leaving the bloc vulnerable to external exploitation.

EU can’t depend on neighbors for border control, migration chief says

Magnus Brunner was speaking a week after a surge of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.

7am Europe's migration policies put to the test

An analysis of the challenges currently facing European migration policies.

2030, a migrant World Cup?

With the 2030 World Cup approaching, the author argues that the tournament should serve as a catalyst for the European Union to address its ongoing humanitarian and migration crises. The article criticises the EU's bureaucratic inertia, lack of political cohesion, and passive role in global affairs, suggesting that the event provides a unique opportunity for Europe to redefine its humanist values and implement structural solutions for the future.

It is very easy to create a crisis within the European Union with migrants

The division between member states and the lack of a common response make the EU more vulnerable to pressure from third countries, argues Isabel Santos, former PS MEP.