“Across the Atlantic, we see the violence and fear created by ICE’s brutal immigration enforcement. Europe should be learning from the harms of that model, not building its own version of it.” — Silvia Carta, PICUM
A PDF of this issue is available in French and in English.
Border management
Further details on Frontex RECAPP app
Buried within a series of presentations to the 12 February 2026 meeting of the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA), a Frontex presentation (pdf) appears to indicate that the RECAPP app reportedly under development will handle, among other tasks, alternatives to detention processes such as electronic reporting and geographical restrictions.
It has been previously reported that Frontex is developing another app ‘RRApp’ for similar purposes, and it is unclear how RECAPP relates to this. In response to a previous Statewatch FOI request, Frontex commented on 11 May that “the development of the RECAPP digital information tool has not started yet and that the project is currently in its initiation phase”.
A separate presentation to the SCIFA meeting (pdf) of 24 March indicates Frontex expects a role in implementing the future digitalised return system.
Visa restrictive measures against hostile state officials, combatants, whoever else
A Commission discussion paper (pdf) circulated to the 4 May meeting of the Visa Working Party expands on previously discussed plans to use the EU’s Visa Code as a tool of leverage in migration cooperation.
This paper focusses on ‘hostile’ third countries in the context of hybrid threats. It outlines the idea of using visa restrictive measures targeting diplomats or officials, former or current combatants, and any other applicants “whose purpose of travel is non-essential”.
“This proposal would constitute an important element for the EU visa policy to fully develop its potential as a strategic tool, enabling rapid and proportionate responses to security threats while upholding the rule of law and humanitarian principles.”
It goes on to outline the legal basis (requiring a change to Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) and how such measures would be tracked within digital border systems.
In contrast to punitive visa measures, another paper (pdf) describes using visa-free travel as an incentive to garner non-EU countries’ cooperation, and describes new criteria for assessing eligibility. These include cooperation on deportations, but also counter-migration efforts generally, as well as “alignment with the Union’s external relations and interests”.
Uneven planning for the end of temporary protection for Ukrainians
A paper from the Cypriot presidency (pdf) of the Council of the EU to the 24 March meeting of the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum describes uneven preparation for the potential end of temporary protection for Ukrainians:
“Although several Member States have started developing mechanisms for transitioning out of temporary protection, many others have yet to establish clear procedures or guidance for post-TPD residence. This uneven approach risks leading to inconsistent treatment of displaced persons and undermines an EU-wide coordinated approach.”
The paper asks delegates whether, and with what changes, temporary protection should be further extended, and asks what member states’ current preparations are.
Frontex presentation on fraudulent visa pilot
In the 27 March meeting of the Visa Working Party, Frontex presented an update on a pilot project (pdf) to identify ‘fraudulently obtained visas’. While not of huge interest from an externalisation point of view, it does offer details of the digital tools used, and hints at possible targets for future pre-departure control measures. The main countries focussed on in the presentation, where the most fraudulent visas are allegedly obtained, are Russia, Turkey, Kenya, India, Iran, and China.
Deportation and readmission
Unclear way forward on deportations to Syria, reports Council presidency
A discussion paper from the presidency (pdf) to the 29 January meeting of the Working Party on External Aspects of Asylum and Migration (EMWP) discusses the security situation in Syria and in particular the issue of deportations and voluntary returns there.
The paper notes that a stable Syria is in the EU’s interest, as it is “likely to reduce illegal migratory flows” and facilitate more deportations. Nonetheless, it also remarks that “conditions for sustainable reintegration remain fragile and uneven across areas of return” and that sustained reintegration support will be needed. The document hints at a desire for “large-scale returns” once the security and governance situation in Syria improves. Reference is made to a forthcoming DG MENA project on displacement.
The paper reports that, at a meeting with the Commission on 9 January 2026, interm president Al-Sharaa expressed concern over criminals being deported to Syria in large numbers, though overall there appears a willingness to cooperate on deportations.
The paper concludes by asking member state delegations what they think the best way forward is with Syria regarding overall migration cooperation, deportations as well as recovery and reconstruction.
Paper on returns border procedure hints at EU anxiety
A presidency discussion paper to the 13 January meeting of the Working Party on Integration, Migration and Expulsion (IMEX Expulsion) on the incoming return border procedure addresses the new process and member state capacity ahead of the implementation of the Pact on migration and asylum.
The paper (pdf) describes one of the “essential challenges” of the new system being the 12-week limit on the process and the requirement that asylum refusals and deportations orders be issued at the same time. This is described as a “particularly challenging” task given the coordination and third country documentation required. The paper describes member state concerns about these issues and warns about the procedural consequences of the system falling down.
Migration partnerships
The EU’s Libya mission checks in about engagement with Haftar
Statewatch has received the latest six-monthly report from the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) (pdf), which covers activity from 23 August 2025 to 22 February 2026. EUBAM Libya is a key part of the EU’s externalisation work, with a mission to support Libyan actors “in developing border management and security at the country’s land, sea and air borders”.
This report contains many insights into the current state of the migration control partnership, in particular engagement with Libya’s ‘eastern’ forces under General Khalifa Haftar.
The mission’s outreach to the east is noted as a “significant step forward”, with engagement at the senior-official level expected to facilitate future cooperation. Another meeting was expected in the first quarter of 2026 “to maintain momentum”. The report describes potential training on open-source intelligence and cyber investigations, and plans to offer “technical-level support and to then deliver operational equipment and skillset”.
Further initiatives were to be assessed in the next reporting period, with the report urging further action.
Other notable items include:
- After a long pause, working groups for land and maritime borders were held in late 2025 and early 2026. The outcomes of these include the agreement of an assistance package for the Wazin and Nalut area, as well as an agreement on capacity-building activities for the beginning of 2026. At what is described as a “long awaited” maritime working group, the report describes “new Libyan points of contacts” introduced, which suggests the presence of eastern forces
- Many other trainings, study visits and workshops are described covering counter-smuggling, crime, forensics and other border, security and law enforcement themes. Discussions apparently took place with the Libyan Intelligence Service on capacity building and equipment provision
- A Western border project in Ras Ajdir, Abu Sharaf and Al Assah is reported to be underway, building up border surveillance and control capacity and equipment at the border with Tunisia
- The report complains of a “limited ability” to monitor project and budget implementation, recommending better tools for that purpose
- A “national search and rescue plan” is reported to have been completed but not yet endorsed by ‘western’ government Prime Minister Dbeibeh. This item refers to working with “all relevant Libyan authorities” on the plan, though it is not clear if this includes eastern forces
- An agreement is reported to have been reached for the provision of rapid response vehicles, drones, night-vision binoculars and other specialised equipment to Libyan authorities working on the western border. The first phase of the package, including procurement, was to being Q1 2026
- A project for enhancing inter-agency cooperation through information sharing and other measures is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026
- Procurement for expanding a ‘Global Maritime Distress and Safety System’ is expected to be launched, eventually covering 385 kilometres of the Libyan coast. Three ‘Damen Stan’ patrol vessels are to be upgraded “to extend the seagoing capability of the Libyan Coast Guard”, though it seems like this will take time
- Looking to the future, the mission expected to award the contract for the Wazin and Nalut project. It also expected to begin procurement of “specialised detection and control equipment (…) to improve cross-border flows and modernise frontline units”. It also envisages further building up surveillance infrastructure on the Libya-Tunisia border
- The document includes further items related to cross-border crime and terrorism responses, financial and procurement information for the mission, security assessments and a general assessment of the stability of the country, particularly around the Tripoli region. It notes that a “heightened rhetoric against sub-Saharan migrants has led to an increase in reported attacks, as local population link their presence to perceived security threats”
- EUBAM Libya appears pleased at the growth of its social media following – 23.8% compared to the previous reporting period
Primer on regional processes and externalisation
A presidency paper to the 10 March meeting of the Working Party on External Aspects of Asylum and Migration (EMWP) outlines the role of regional migration dialogue ‘processes’ in EU externalisation (pdf) (namely the Budapest, Prague, Khartoum, Rabat and Niamey processes, as well as the AU-EU Continent-to-Continent Migration and Mobility Dialogue).
The paper serves as a useful primer for people looking to understand the role of these processes better and also contains a few points of interest:
- The Prague process is currently running consultations for its next mandate. The 5th Prague Process Ministerial Conference will take place 28 January 2027
- While the Khartoum Process has suffered reputational damage in recent years, the presidency describes it as “a valuable and dynamic platform, well positioned to address future migration challenges”
Update to the Central Mediterranean Action File
An implementation progress report (pdf) on the Central Mediterranean route action file, sent to the MOCADEM roundtable of 18 February 2026, updates member state delegates on progress across various countries.
Notable updates from the previous version of this action file include:
General
- There is description of “awareness raising and information campaigns” being implemented across the route, including Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Niger and Nigeria. The grant agreements for these projects were to be signed by the first quarter of 2026
- A new programme, “the Global Alliance Rapid Response Initiatives (GARRI)” was launched in 2026 by the Commission, described as a pilot project “to deliver agile and context-specific communication responses to react quickly to emerging trends and specific patterns in migrant smuggling”. The programme is to run until the end of 2028
- More diplomatic and technical outreach has been made to origin countries represented on the route, on both preventing outward migration and increasing deportations
Tunisia
- A third inter-service technical mission was planned for March 2026
Egypt
- Description of a “programming mission” in September 2025 to prompt strategic discussion on “the prioritisation of migration support actions until 2027”, as well as a ‘return and readmission’ workshop held on 4 December 2025
- As of this document, it was still undecided how exactly the €200m committed to the migration and mobility pillar of the SCP would be spent
Libya
- Eight technical joint Commission/EEAS missions reported between 2024 and the beginning of 2026, five in Libya and three in Brussels. The last mission was 3-4 February, with DG HOME, DG MENA, EUBAM Libya, FRONTEX and Operation Irini officials present
- A further €35m budget for border management and protection was expected by the first quarter of 2026
- Work is apparently ongoing to conclude a working arrangement between Frontex and EUBAM Libya
Update to the Gambia action file
An action file for The Gambia (pdf), presented to the same MOCADEM meeting, shows the EU putting continued pressure on the Gambia for better migration cooperation. Notable items in the Gambia action file include:
- The second phase of a ‘common operational partnership’ began in December 2025, funded by €2.7m via the EU’s internal security fund
- A €10m “programme on reintegration of returnees covering The Gambia” was to be signed by the first half of 2026
- Germany plans to donate boats to the Gambia in order to increase “capacity on maritime security”, with a particular focus on search and rescue, while the Spanish Guardia Civil is in talks for maritime training
- German federal police provided training to Gambian authorities on deportations in 2025, with further training expected November 2026. Dutch authorities similarly provided training on document fraud, with more expected in 2026. There is also description of a Dutch-funded ‘PROMIS’ project for counter-smuggling/trafficking
- The report recommends developing “awareness campaigns through (social) media and events in The Gambia, (e)specially aimed at youth”
Leaked arrangement between the EU and Haftar’s eastern forces
Statewatch has obtained and published a ‘technical arrangement’ between the EU’s naval mission Operation Irini and Libyan forces under General Khalifa Haftar, the de facto leader of large parts of Libya’s east and south. The arrangement
provides for training and material support, as well as the development and maintenance of a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Benghazi.
Updates on the Eastern Med Route
Two presentations to the EMWP meeting (pdf) of 29 January 2026 update delegations on the migratory situation and asylum applications on the Eastern Mediterranean Route, from Frontex and the EUAA respectively.
There is a lot of information in the presentations, though little of relevance from an externalisation point of view. However, the presentation briefly makes mentions of Egyptian return operations to Sudan, which may be of relevance to the EU’s whole-of-route approach.
Other
Plenary to vote on development cooperation and root causes
On Tuesday 16 June, MEPs will vote on a measure “Reinforcing development cooperation to address irregular population movements and their root causes in partner countries”.
Home and Mediterranean commissioners discuss migration with MED9 group
On 18 May, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, and Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner met with the MED9 group of Cyprus, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia. They reportedly discussed irregular migration, borders, the Pact on Migration and Asylum and deportations, among other things.