WEBVTT NOTE Brussels Live. Transcribed and translated automatically from the original sound. Mistakes are possible. Independent service, not affiliated with the European Parliament or the European Commission. Source: © European Union. AI-generated: Transcripts, translations and summaries on this site are generated automatically by AI: speech recognition (Soniox), machine translation and summaries (Mistral AI). Not edited by humans before publication. EU AI Act, Article 50. 00:00:00.629 --> 00:00:05.489 Good morning, everybody, and welcome to our Press Point on the second annual 00:00:05.549 --> 00:00:09.334 Migration Management Cycle under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. 00:00:09.389 --> 00:00:13.423 We have Commissioner Brunner here with us, and I give the floor directly to the 00:00:13.470 --> 00:00:14.789 Commissioner. You have the floor. 00:00:14.909 --> 00:00:18.497 Thank you very much, and good morning to everyone. 00:00:18.569 --> 00:00:25.220 Yeah, as you said, we are launching today the second annual Migration Management 00:00:25.289 --> 00:00:32.753 Cycle. So we are delivering, actually, on a core component of the pact, on migration 00:00:32.825 --> 00:00:39.289 and asylum. And it actually builds on the very positive results that we achieved 00:00:39.384 --> 00:00:47.408 during the last two years, notably the significant decrease of illegal migration to 00:00:47.518 --> 00:00:55.972 the European Union. And it also confirms that our new approach on migration with the 00:00:56.064 --> 00:01:02.462 new legal framework, with a stronger border protection, with new rules on returns, 00:01:02.529 --> 00:01:10.079 of course, also and also which is very important, a more active migration diplomacy. 00:01:10.169 --> 00:01:15.170 That all this together, all these reforms together, deliver the results. 00:01:15.269 --> 00:01:22.089 And with the annual cycle, we provide a yearly, as you know, a yearly overview of 00:01:22.138 --> 00:01:25.625 the asylum and migration situation in the European Union. 00:01:25.709 --> 00:01:32.977 And it's also to assess the migratory situation in the member states. 00:01:33.029 --> 00:01:41.405 And also to ensure that the balance between responsibility and solidarity of course 00:01:41.501 --> 00:01:47.461 keeps going. We also propose the annual solidarity pool for 2027. 00:01:47.549 --> 00:01:53.674 So as I said, our reforms are delivering, our new approach on migration is 00:01:53.747 --> 00:02:01.605 delivering strong results. Illegal migration is down, asylum applications are down, 00:02:01.709 --> 00:02:09.404 unauthorized movements within the European Union are down, and returns are going up. 00:02:09.809 --> 00:02:15.981 The numbers actually prove it. As we know, illegal migration went down by 55 percent 00:02:16.069 --> 00:02:20.789 in the last two years, another third this year already. 00:02:20.969 --> 00:02:25.189 And to give you a concrete example, the Western Balkan route, for instance, which 00:02:25.233 --> 00:02:31.737 was the most challenging route in the past, is down by 95 percent in the last years. 00:02:31.829 --> 00:02:37.899 Western Africans, Central Mediterranean, route down 80 percent in the last year. 00:02:37.949 --> 00:02:43.704 So you can also see the effects actually on the member states themselves. 00:02:43.829 --> 00:02:48.835 Just to give you a couple of examples there, Sweden has the lowest numbers ever 00:02:48.932 --> 00:02:55.343 recorded, Denmark the lowest numbers in 40 years, Austria returns more people than 00:02:55.392 --> 00:03:02.539 you have asylum applications, for the first time actually in over two decades. 00:03:02.609 --> 00:03:06.089 Germany, in Germany the asylum applications are down 80 00:03:06.209 --> 00:03:12.699 percent compared to two years ago. So the numbers are quite clear there. 00:03:12.809 --> 00:03:16.877 And this brings me to the next point, the pact. 00:03:16.949 --> 00:03:23.945 The pact is up, the pact is running. By now, all member states are applying the new 00:03:24.042 --> 00:03:30.762 rules of the pact. It's about, of course, restoring control. 00:03:31.049 --> 00:03:35.009 And also better preventing the abuse of our system. 00:03:35.069 --> 00:03:38.496 It's about speeding up the procedures as well. 00:03:38.549 --> 00:03:45.574 And it's also about decreasing the pressure altogether from illegal migration. 00:03:45.689 --> 00:03:53.609 And at the EU's external borders, all those arriving illegally are now apprehended, 00:03:53.674 --> 00:03:57.592 they are screened, and they are also registered. 00:03:57.689 --> 00:04:05.242 By the way, that's the same logic that applies to those also arriving legally. 00:04:05.369 --> 00:04:10.279 They are screened and registered with our new entry-exit system. 00:04:10.409 --> 00:04:16.341 The member states are putting the new border procedures to use directly at the 00:04:16.426 --> 00:04:23.050 external borders. And the figures from the first weeks are quite encouraging I would 00:04:23.133 --> 00:04:31.499 say. Over 15,000 until October. So that means faster decisions, that means swifter 00:04:31.557 --> 00:04:38.067 returns also for those who have no right to stay in the European Union directly from 00:04:38.171 --> 00:04:43.927 the external borders. And also another very important point is that all member 00:04:43.990 --> 00:04:50.579 states are connected to the new Eurodac database, which actually helps to prevent 00:04:50.669 --> 00:04:57.737 abuse and gives us also more control. And all that together gives the member states 00:04:57.809 --> 00:05:02.606 space also to provide protection for those who really need protection. 00:05:02.669 --> 00:05:06.505 So it creates space, of course, there as well. 00:05:06.569 --> 00:05:14.409 And now to the core of today's report, building on the strong results also from the 00:05:14.509 --> 00:05:19.329 first cycle, today we launched the second annual Migration Management Cycle. 00:05:19.409 --> 00:05:24.543 The first cycle actually proved that the system works. 00:05:24.629 --> 00:05:32.289 Rules are in force, and solidarity also delivers on what the member state agreed 00:05:32.436 --> 00:05:39.133 last year. So based on the data, based on the information provided by the member 00:05:39.201 --> 00:05:46.096 states and also on a sort of solid methodology, the report presents which member 00:05:46.169 --> 00:05:53.079 states will have access to solidarity, in the second cycle, and also which member 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:57.869 states are facing significant migratory situations. 00:05:58.709 --> 00:06:06.251 And the new rules no member state, of course, is left alone to deal with this with 00:06:06.327 --> 00:06:13.684 the illegal migration. Those facing a significant migratory pressure can, of course, 00:06:13.755 --> 00:06:19.002 always count on others to provide solidarity and also support. 00:06:19.109 --> 00:06:26.219 And it is, this is also clear, it is for the contributing member states to decide 00:06:26.309 --> 00:06:34.393 how they can contribute. Be it financially, be it other contributions offsets or 00:06:34.505 --> 00:06:41.237 relocation. And at the same time, to benefit from the solidarity member states must, 00:06:41.306 --> 00:06:44.944 of course, always exercise their responsibility. 00:06:45.029 --> 00:06:50.502 And that is the core of the pact, altogether, responsibility and solidarity of 00:06:50.599 --> 00:06:58.709 course must go hand in hand. Maybe to conclude, we have as I said, I think already 00:06:58.789 --> 00:07:05.500 achieved a lot in the last two years. But good policy is always say never stops. 00:07:05.609 --> 00:07:11.452 Evolving and so therefore we will further also build on this on the common 00:07:11.537 --> 00:07:16.377 foundations to ensure that we continue to, of course, restore control, that we 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:21.304 continue also to build more trust even between the member states and also, of 00:07:21.344 --> 00:07:25.049 course, more trust with the citizens. Thank you. 00:07:27.029 --> 00:07:29.746 Thanks very much. We can take a couple of questions. 00:07:29.789 --> 00:07:33.147 Really only a couple of questions the Commission has and ensuring engagement 00:07:33.189 --> 00:07:34.852 afterwards. But we can take some questions. 00:07:34.889 --> 00:07:36.089 We're starting with Dorota. 00:07:37.949 --> 00:07:44.189 So. Hello? Okay. Yes? Is it no? Yeah, okay. 00:07:44.249 --> 00:07:51.402 So is Dorota from Polish TV TVP? I would like to know which countries are excluded 00:07:51.490 --> 00:07:56.996 from participation in the solidarity pool next year. 00:07:57.149 --> 00:08:02.376 This year there were four countries, Poland, Croatia, Austria, and Czech Republic I 00:08:02.432 --> 00:08:10.810 think, that didn't have to take the migrants or contribute otherwise. 00:08:10.949 --> 00:08:16.518 Which countries will not have to participate in this solidarity mechanism in 2027, 00:08:16.589 --> 00:08:20.021 please? And if Poland is one of them, why? 00:08:20.129 --> 00:08:22.709 What were the arguments? Thank you. 00:08:24.089 --> 00:08:29.120 Okay, I'll concentrate on Poland in this case. 00:08:29.309 --> 00:08:35.972 Poland is, of course, among the member states facing a significant migratory 00:08:36.022 --> 00:08:41.327 situation. This is because Poland has been hosting and you were asking me for the 00:08:41.369 --> 00:08:48.703 reasons, hosting high numbers of beneficiaries from temporary protection from the 00:08:48.767 --> 00:08:53.907 Ukraine. And also, of course, faces challenges when it comes to weaponization, 00:08:53.978 --> 00:08:58.025 instrumentalization at the migration at the border. 00:08:58.109 --> 00:09:02.742 So nothing has changed for Poland from last year on that. 00:09:02.789 --> 00:09:08.415 And also for the other member states you were mentioning, so with this decision 00:09:08.529 --> 00:09:14.343 today, Poland, as you said, Poland can ask the Council then for a deduction from 00:09:14.397 --> 00:09:18.389 solidarity and then the Council will decide on that. 00:09:19.769 --> 00:09:21.149 Thank you very much, Matthia. 00:09:25.229 --> 00:09:31.323 Yes, hello, Commissioner Matthia Bagnoli. Answer the National Italian News Agency. 00:09:31.409 --> 00:09:40.218 Responsibility and solidarity in your assessment, Italy made some progress on 00:09:40.349 --> 00:09:43.652 responsibility, meaning obviously controlling secondary movement. 00:09:43.709 --> 00:09:49.300 But further progress is needed and you are going to carefully watch those progress. 00:09:49.349 --> 00:09:53.774 So my question is, is this a yellow card here? 00:09:53.849 --> 00:09:55.049 Thank you. 00:09:56.069 --> 00:10:02.161 Talking about football or no, I think Italy, and as you said, of course Italy is 00:10:02.213 --> 00:10:06.504 incredibly important for us when it comes to management. 00:10:06.569 --> 00:10:12.683 Migration. And we see in the results also, and that's why I was mentioning that, 00:10:12.749 --> 00:10:19.255 illegal arrivals are down over 55%. As I said before, in the central Mediterranean, 00:10:19.373 --> 00:10:26.255 this year already and also thanks to the measures taken actually by Italy. 00:10:26.369 --> 00:10:33.565 And this is, this has also a positive effect for the entire European Union. 00:10:33.749 --> 00:10:39.778 As you said, when it comes to the rules of the pact, we see that Italy has invested 00:10:39.859 --> 00:10:45.518 a lot and has made an important progress already. 00:10:45.629 --> 00:10:50.822 At the same time, of course, responsibility and solidarity, as I said, must continue 00:10:50.886 --> 00:10:56.078 to go hand in hand. And that will, of course, also be taken into account, as you 00:10:56.145 --> 00:11:01.122 said, we're going to monitor the situation very closely. 00:11:01.229 --> 00:11:07.169 But Italy is important and Italy has done a lot to improve the situation. 00:11:09.029 --> 00:11:12.089 Thanks very much. Yes, yeah, we have. 00:11:13.949 --> 00:11:16.072 Thank you for the press point and for taking my question. 00:11:16.109 --> 00:11:17.609 Herr Commissar, Clemens Handel, 00:11:17.729 --> 00:11:22.755 for ORF. Should Austria continue to be part of the solidarity exemption even though 00:11:22.808 --> 00:11:27.212 the number of asylum applications in Austria is at its lowest level in years? 00:11:27.269 --> 00:11:29.546 Austria has been able to provide solidarity. 00:11:29.592 --> 00:11:34.022 Why is Austria still part of the group of countries facing a significant migration 00:11:34.068 --> 00:11:35.268 situation? 00:11:35.429 --> 00:11:40.088 Because we have clear rules and a methodology that is also clear, which the Member 00:11:40.126 --> 00:11:44.896 States have agreed upon. And I say this precisely because Austria has also taken on 00:11:44.956 --> 00:11:49.149 a great deal of responsibility in the past when it comes to secondary migration. 00:11:49.217 --> 00:11:55.293 And this is also taken into account, of course, when it comes to this assessment. 00:11:55.382 --> 00:12:03.344 And therefore, we are proposing, yes, that Austria should have the possibility, in 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:07.058 other words, that Austria should also be exempted from solidarity. 00:12:07.113 --> 00:12:11.178 Because Austria has indeed taken on a very, very high level of responsibility in 00:12:11.224 --> 00:12:13.469 recent years. And that is also being factored in. 00:12:14.549 --> 00:12:17.252 Thanks very much. We have time for two more questions. 00:12:17.309 --> 00:12:18.509 Alexandra. 00:12:21.329 --> 00:12:23.868 Is it working? Okay. Commissioner, good morning. 00:12:23.909 --> 00:12:28.654 Alexandra Voudouri with Kathmerini. Beyond the assessment of migratory pressure, 00:12:28.709 --> 00:12:34.118 almost five months after the pact was entered into application, what is the 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:38.825 Commission's initial assessment of its implementation in Greece? 00:12:38.909 --> 00:12:42.985 Particularly regarding border screening and registration procedures. 00:12:43.049 --> 00:12:47.552 And have you identified any concrete improvements since last year, at least? 00:12:47.609 --> 00:12:49.889 And what challenges remain? Thank you so much. 00:12:51.329 --> 00:12:56.641 Yeah, thank you very much. Greece is, of course, also an incredibly important for 00:12:56.710 --> 00:13:01.449 managing migration in Europe. And it plays a big role in our altogether, in our 00:13:01.566 --> 00:13:08.849 efforts to keep illegal migration down. And this has also same with Italy, of 00:13:08.909 --> 00:13:13.332 course, a positive effect on the whole European Union. 00:13:13.409 --> 00:13:22.061 When it comes concretely to Greece, so while overall actually the arrivals along the 00:13:22.128 --> 00:13:29.404 eastern Mediterranean route has decreased, Greece, of course, has still challenges. 00:13:29.489 --> 00:13:36.824 Definitely. Greece has challenges, of course, especially due to the arrivals from 00:13:36.927 --> 00:13:42.136 Libya. That is why we are engaging with our partner countries along the eastern 00:13:42.209 --> 00:13:46.778 corridor to prevent these dangerous journeys and also there, Greece, of course, is 00:13:46.932 --> 00:13:53.920 incredibly important. When it comes to the rules, of the pact, Greece will therefore 00:13:54.029 --> 00:14:01.504 like last year have access to the solidarity pool and Greece is actually making an 00:14:01.642 --> 00:14:05.249 effective use of the new border procedure. 00:14:05.309 --> 00:14:09.438 So that's very good news. Greece is doing a very good job. 00:14:09.509 --> 00:14:12.869 And it is also increasing returns by the way. 00:14:12.989 --> 00:14:18.726 And that sense I would say a very clear message from Greece to the rest of the 00:14:18.811 --> 00:14:23.609 world. Very good news. And Greece is also delivering on the responsibility and 00:14:23.676 --> 00:14:30.256 solidarity part. And that strengthens also our common system altogether and builds 00:14:30.333 --> 00:14:33.569 also helps to build trust among the member states. 00:14:34.349 --> 00:14:38.743 Thanks very much. One more question. You know all of you, we will have the technical 00:14:38.789 --> 00:14:41.693 briefing coming afterwards. So you'll have ample time to ask your questions. 00:14:41.729 --> 00:14:44.989 We will explain everything afterwards. But one more question now because the 00:14:45.025 --> 00:14:46.589 Commissioner has to leave. Miguel. 00:14:51.689 --> 00:14:53.748 Hi, Miguel Salvatierra for FS Spanish News Agency. 00:14:53.789 --> 00:14:56.945 I would like to ask first about the general situation in Spain. 00:14:57.029 --> 00:15:01.206 I would like to know if the Commission considers Spain did a good job facing 00:15:01.283 --> 00:15:07.416 migration. And also I would like to know why did you consider the incidents in 00:15:07.505 --> 00:15:15.797 Ceuta? If I'm not wrong, the report analyzes data between July 2025 and June 2026. 00:15:15.929 --> 00:15:18.646 I just would like to know why did you analyze that. 00:15:18.689 --> 00:15:19.889 Thank you. 00:15:22.769 --> 00:15:29.380 Yeah, Spain is of course one of the four. Member states under migratory pressure. 00:15:29.429 --> 00:15:35.069 And it was already last year. And the reasons are also, as I said, fact-based I 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:41.505 would say. And it's a part of our, as I mentioned before, of our solid methodology. 00:15:41.609 --> 00:15:49.379 Just to know, for this year, Spain accounted for around 20% of all illegal border 00:15:49.437 --> 00:15:54.539 crossings at the European Union level. And that was and was actually the third 00:15:54.609 --> 00:15:59.159 member state to for arrivals through search and rescue. 00:15:59.249 --> 00:16:04.786 Also search and rescue operations. Especially to the Canary Islands, of course, but 00:16:04.829 --> 00:16:11.720 also the Balearic Islands. And yes, Ceuta indeed, Ceuta, the situation in Ceuta has 00:16:11.798 --> 00:16:16.064 been taken into account also in our assessment. 00:16:16.169 --> 00:16:21.389 And it tells us altogether with the facts, the figures I was mentioning, that Spain 00:16:21.461 --> 00:16:27.858 is under migratory pressure. As I said, it's about the facts, the figures, the solid 00:16:27.957 --> 00:16:33.589 methodology. We have and the assessment is based on that. 00:16:33.809 --> 00:16:39.269 So yes, Spain is under pressure. That's what we suggest. 00:16:39.989 --> 00:16:44.069 Thanks very much, everybody. This ends our press conference for now. 00:16:44.129 --> 00:16:47.746 You will have the chance to ask more questions now in the technical briefing. 00:16:47.789 --> 00:16:49.674 Thanks, Commissioner. Thanks, everybody, for coming. 00:16:49.709 --> 00:16:50.549 See you soon. 00:16:50.549 --> 00:16:51.749 Thank you very much.