TEN years in the past the migrant disaster was making headlines throughout Europe, with nations like Germany and Sweden welcoming asylum seekers with open arms.
However within the decade since, the general public’s anger has reached new heights – and now Europe is pulling up the drawbridge with a string of powerful measures that put Keir Starmer’s stumbling efforts to disgrace.
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Throughout the continent, border controls have been tightened and asylum guidelines toughened.
“Again in 2015, folks have been extraordinarily sympathetic to the migrant disaster,” stated Man Dampier, from the Prosperity Institute suppose tank.
“The well-known phrase from 2015 is Merkle’s ‘Wir schaffen das’ – we will do it.
“However what we’re seeing in the previous few years is a rising realisation by Europe that they’ll’t do this.
“And never solely can they not do it, they really don’t wish to do it, as a result of the modifications that that is bringing are modifications that individuals have by no means voted for and don’t need.”
Many within the UK are calling on Starmer to look to Europe for inspiration because the Authorities struggles to become familiar with the small boat crossings within the English Channel.
Dwelling Workplace statistics present that greater than 170,000 folks have made the crossing since information started in 2018.
On Monday, it was revealed that the Authorities is ready to tighten the principles round asylum seekers bringing their households to the UK, bringing the nation extra according to its neighbours.
After a report variety of asylum seekers and unlawful migrants arrived within the Continent, attitudes amongst Europeans have hardened, with assist for right-wing and even far-right events reaching new heights.
Within the first three months of 2025, Venezuelans and Afghans made up the 2 nationalities with the best variety of asylum seekers, based on Eurostat, adopted by Bangladesh.
To this point, the more durable restrictions seem like working.
Crossings into Europe are down 18 per cent within the first seven months of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final yr, based on Frontex, the European Union border company.
The central Mediterranean route – which sees migrants make the treacherous journey from Tunisia and Libya to Italy – stays the busiest, with virtually 36,700 folks making the crossing.
Nevertheless, human rights teams have warned that the crackdown dangers turning a blind eye to the abuses migrants face by the hands of felony gangs.
And the human price stays excessive.
Treacherous journeys
Greater than 2,200 folks died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2024 alone, based on the UN, with migrants pushed to take riskier routes as land borders are shut.
The Atlantic voyage from the west African coast to the Spanish Canary Islands can also be gaining popularity, with officers on the islands demanding a state of emergency now be declared.
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Instability in north Africa – specifically Libya since Western intervention led to the ousting of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011 – has additionally allowed gangs to thrive.
“Over 90 per cent of people who organise the crossings are felony teams,” Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE, from the Royal United Providers Institute, instructed The Solar.
“They must get some type of assure or assurance that after they get there, they won’t get caught. It can rely gang by gang, or community by community, wherever they’ve the strongest hyperlink.”
He added: “From a logistical viewpoint, they would like Italy or Greece. Italy is healthier, as a result of it’s nearer, whereas with Greece you continue to should cross by the western Balkans, which aren’t a part of the EU.”
Because the fall of Gaddafi, it has been just about unimaginable to manipulate in Libya…in these kinds of situations, it is extremely troublesome to deal with organised crime
Dr Andi Hoxhaj
You will need to acknowledge, Dr Hoxhaj added, that long run options must take care of the extent of demand.
Moreover, for so long as the safety state of affairs in north Africa stays as it’s, smuggling gangs will be capable to thrive, with funding and financial integration wanted to convey stability.
“Because the fall of Gaddafi, it has been just about unimaginable to manipulate in Libya. In these kinds of situations, it is extremely troublesome to deal with organised crime, particularly if you’re not able to having full management over your authorities and your borders,” he added.
So are nations in Europe responding to the calls for of a few of their voters – and have they been profitable?
Sweden
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Many view Sweden as a “progressive paradise” – however this doesn’t match as much as what’s been occurring not too long ago.
For years, the Nordic nation had a liberal migration system, and in 2015 took in additional asylum seekers as a proportion of its inhabitants than some other nation in Europe.
Because the centre-right authorities took energy in 2022, nonetheless, the nation has massively toughened up its border.
Asylum rights at the moment are the naked minimal that’s allowed within the EU, citizenship has been made more durable to get, and rejected asylum seekers are housed in “return centres” earlier than being deported.
Money grants of £26,000 have even been provided to migrants who select to return residence voluntarily.
The numbers don’t lie – simply 6,250 folks have been granted asylum within the nation in 2024, in comparison with a determine of 84,200 within the UK.
Germany
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Germany was the poster youngster for welcoming migrants a decade in the past.
However this yr, the nation has turned its again on mass migration, with the far-right occasion Different for Germany now joint first within the polls with the centre-right CDU.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed a crackdown, with police now turning away virtually all asylum seekers on the border.
Migrants granted asylum additionally now not have the proper to convey their relations to the nation, whereas an increasing number of nations have been categorised as “protected nations of origin”.
Deportations are being stepped up – together with flights again to Afghanistan – and a devoted “migration terminal” is deliberate for Munich airport.
“We’ve had some fairly sturdy rhetoric from Friedrich Merz, and he has taken some actions that actually would have shocked folks even a number of years in the past,” Man defined.
Nevertheless, whether or not or not the powerful insurance policies are working is a tougher query to reply.
“It’s decreased the quantity of people that declare asylum on the border,” stated Man.
“However what all of them do now could be head additional into Germany earlier than presenting themselves to the authorities.”
Greece
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In contrast to the northern European nations, Greece is on the entrance line of migratory waves coming from the Center East and North Africa – and the federal government has taken one of many hardest stances on the market.
“Certainly not are we going to grow to be a rustic of open borders or a rustic the place those that come shall be welcomed with flowers,” stated Thanos Plevris, the nation’s migration minister.
Lots of the migrants arrive by boat, both from close by Turkey or Libya, a haven for folks smuggling.
Surprising studies have instructed of boats being forcibly pushed outdoors of territorial waters by the coastguard, with claims of migrants being positioned in inflatable boats, typically with out motors, and left stranded.
The observe – which the Greek authorities denies it engages in – has been extensively condemned as unlawful.
In January, the European Courtroom of Human Rights discovered Greece responsible of conducting “systematic” pushbacks of would-be asylum seekers attempting to enter the nation by sea.
A latest spike noticed greater than 11,000 migrants arrive in Crete from Libya.
In response, parliament voted to droop all asylum claims from North Africa for 3 months.
Navy vessels have been additionally deployed off the Libyan coast to discourage folks smugglers.
Denmark
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The small Scandinavian nation has been main the best way with regards to being powerful on immigration – each with regards to deterring new arrivals and integrating people who find themselves already right here.
In 2019, the nation’s prime minister even declared an goal to cut back asylum claims to zero, which different leaders wish to replicate.
Many are shocked to listen to that these powerful insurance policies are in actual fact the work of the nation’s centre-left authorities.
It’s a transparent signal that, in Europe, cracking down on immigration is now not only a right-wing place.
Man defined: “In Denmark, the centre left has taken a whole lot of these measures, accomplished exactly as a result of it enabled them to defang the populist proper.”
Different measures taken by Denmark embrace revoking asylum standing if the house nation is asserted protected.
Even areas of Syria, together with across the capital Damascus, have been re-categorised because the preventing got here to an finish.
Poland
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This summer time Karol Nawrocki gained the Polish presidency by taking a leaf out of Donald Trump’s e-book, campaigning with the slogan: “Poland First, Poles First”.
The nation’s border with Belarus, a rustic allied with Russia, is closely militarised so as to stop folks from getting into the nation illegally.
Alongside this japanese frontier, migration has been “weaponised” by Putin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
Folks from the Center East, Asia, and Africa who wish to enter the EU are capable of arrive in Belarus on vacationer visas – however are then bussed straight to the border, typically by troopers.
In response, Poland suspended asylum claims from its japanese border in March.
Raids involving 26,000 law enforcement officials have been additionally carried out throughout the nation, with practically 1,500 migrants detained between February 13 and 14 alone.
The nation has additionally seen anti-immigration rallies organised by the far-right held in dozens of cities throughout the nation.
Italy
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Dealing with arrivals on boat from Libya and Tunisia, right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has toughened Italy’s stance on immigration in recent times.
Her authorities has been preventing to course of asylum claims offshore, in Albania.
Although the transfer has been blocked for now by judges – echoing the difficulty Rishi Sunak had in establishing an identical take care of Rwanda – the concept was praised by the European Fee president Usula von der Leyen.
Italy is a prime goal for migrant smugglers within the Mediterranean, with the Italian island of Lampedusa one of many closest European territories to the north African coast.
It’s additionally some of the harmful routes on this planet, with virtually 24,500 dying whereas trying to make the crossing in simply the final ten years, based on the Worldwide Organisation for Migration.
Portugal
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Some smuggling gangs have hoped that the 50-hour journey from Morocco to Portugal might present a profitable new route for ferrying migrants from Africa.
Nevertheless, authorities have acted swiftly to nip unlawful crossings to the Algarve seashores within the bud, fearing they might face the same form of disaster that affected Italy and Greece.
Deportations are carried out quickly and new detention centres have been constructed, and 18,000 unlawful migrants are set to be deported.
Earlier this yr, the Portuguese parliament voted to introduce tighter guidelines, together with short-term custody for migrants with a 20-day window to depart voluntarily, after which they are going to be forcibly eliminated.
Unlawful crossings by sea stay uncommon, nonetheless, with extra unlawful immigrants coming from Brazil and crossing over the border from Spain with the assistance of cast paperwork.
Maritime and coastal surveillance has additionally been intensified.
Solely eight boats have landed on the Portuguese coast since 2019.
France
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Macron’s authorities is in disaster – and as soon as once more faces a menace from the far-right Nationwide Rally, led by Marine Le Pen.
They’ve been rising within the polls regardless of latest efforts by the federal government to toughen up its stance on migration.
Asserting a crackdown on unlawful immigration, Minister Bruno Retailleau boldly acknowledged: “Don’t come to France. We’ll tolerate nothing.”
Over two days in June, round 4,000 law enforcement officials, customized officers and troopers have been deployed on trains and round prepare stations to catch undocumented migrants following an earlier operation in Might that resulted in additional than 750 arrests.
In January, the federal government additionally took steps to stop unlawful immigrants from requesting authorized standing based mostly on household life, employment, or short-term employee standing.
Authorities are additionally trying into extending French policing powers throughout the waters within the north of the nation, with an purpose to stop small boats from making the crossing to the UK.
Nevertheless, with the federal government probably set to break down subsequent week, the far-right have elevated stress on Macron to name an election.
And though they’re unlikely to realize energy, their ever-present menace signifies that any centrist or centre-right authorities is prone to proceed with a crackdown on unlawful immigration and improve cooperation with nations like Germany on the difficulty.
