As Europe steps into 2026, migration and asylum policy continues to generate heated debate within EU institutions and across European societies.
2025 once again exposed the familiar contradictions of Europe’s migration landscape:
- Arrivals across the Mediterranean continued, driven by conflict, climate stress, and economic disparity.
- External border states carried a disproportionate share of responsibility.
- Political pressure grew across Member States to demonstrate “control”, too often translating into deterrence and returns, rather than protection and responsibility-sharing.
Giota Panou, Researcher at EPLO Agency the Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Policy Hub (MedMA) takes stock of these milestones and what they mean for the year ahead:
In 2026, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is set to become operational, shifting the focus from negotiations to implementation.
Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first semester of 2026. As a frontline Member State experiencing migratory pressure first-hand, Cyprus carries both symbolic and strategic weight, uniquely positioned to push for stronger solidarity for Mediterranean states and a more realistic EU conversation on capacity and responsibility.