According to data reported by the German Press Agency (dpa) and confirmed by federal police, out of the total planned deportation attempts last year: 22,787 deportations were successfully carried out.
32,855 attempts failed before the individuals were handed over to federal police officials responsible for repatriation typically at airports. This means approximately 60% of attempts did not proceed to completion, aligning with headlines describing “some two-thirds” failing (as the failed attempts outnumber successes by roughly 3:2 in the pre-handover stage).
The main reasons for these failures include:In the largest category (21,341 cases), state police were unable to locate or bring the individuals to handover points often because they were not found at registered addresses. In 11,184 cases, the deportation orders were withdrawn or cancelled.
After handover to federal police, 1,593 additional attempts still failed; due to pilot refusals on commercial flights—514 cases—passive resistance by deportees, medical issues, missing documents, or last-minute legal interventions. These statistics have fueled political debate, with conservative lawmakers calling for tougher enforcement measures, such as improved coordination, extended detention options, or other reforms to boost success rates.
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Note that overall deportations did increase compared to prior years around 20,000 in 2024, amid broader efforts to curb irregular migration through stricter border controls and policies.Similar high failure rates have been reported in earlier years around two-thirds in 2023 data and 62% in some 2024 analyses, highlighting ongoing systemic challenges in executing deportations despite political priorities.
EU-wide migration policies, as of March 2026, center on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (adopted in 2024), which establishes a comprehensive, harmonized framework for managing asylum, irregular migration, borders, and responsibility-sharing across the 27 EU member states.
The Pact’s rules entered into force in mid-2024 but fully apply from June 12, 2026, marking a major shift toward stricter border controls, faster procedures, and enhanced external cooperation—amid ongoing political debates over human rights, effectiveness, and burden-sharing.
The Pact comprises 10 interconnected legislative acts aimed at creating a “firm, fair, and efficient” system: Border Screening and Identification — All irregular arrivals undergo mandatory screening at external borders including health, security, and identity checks. This feeds into an upgraded Eurodac database to prevent multiple applications and track movements.
Accelerated Asylum Procedures
Faster processing, with benchmarks like 6 months for standard decisions and shorter timelines for “manifestly unfounded” claims. Border procedures up to 12 weeks apply to certain categories; low recognition-rate countries, security risks, or misleading information. Unaccompanied minors are generally exempt unless posing risks.
Countries facing pressure; frontline states like Italy or Greece receive support via relocations up to ~30,000 per year across the EU, financial contributions (€20,000 per non-relocated person), technical aid, or other forms. This addresses past failures in burden-sharing but allows opt-outs via payments.
Streamlined returns for rejected applicants. Expanded use of “safe countries of origin” (EU-wide list includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, Tunisia, and others) and “safe third countries” (transit countries with loose connection criteria) to fast-track rejections or transfers without full merit review.
Provisions for derogations in high-pressure or “instrumentalized” migration scenarios. Member states are finalizing national implementation plans, with investments in infrastructure, detention facilities, and digital tools. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is phasing in (full by April 2026), and ETIAS (visa waiver pre-authorization) launches by late 2026.
In late 2025/early 2026, the EU finalized an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin and revised “safe third country” rules (formal Council adoption February 2026), enabling faster rejections/transfers. Humanitarian groups criticize this for undermining protections, as it may send people to countries with poor human rights records or no real ties.
The Commission released its first 5-year blueprint (2026–2030), prioritizing: Assertive migration diplomacy — Using visas, trade, aid, and conditionality to secure readmissions and prevent departures. Strong borders — Enhanced tech, surveillance, and controls. Firm, fair asylum — Efficient processing, abuse prevention, and talent attraction.
Effective returns — Boosting deportations, potentially via external “return hubs.” The approach reflects a post-2015 hardening, emphasizing deterrence, externalization; cooperation with Libya despite concerns over pullbacks, and returns over expansive protection. Arrivals remain managed through these tools, but challenges persist: high deportation failure rates in some states, NGO concerns about rights erosion.
The Commission pushes for more resources (proposed €81 billion+ in future budgets for migration/asylum).This framework aims for predictability and security but faces scrutiny for potentially prioritizing exclusion over humanitarian obligations. Implementation from June 2026 will test its real-world impact.