Explainers

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has taken a number of steps to help refugees fleeing the war, including through the EU temporary protection mechanism.

The EU has introduced a set of rules to manage migration more effectively and establish a common European asylum system. This system ensures efficient and uniform procedures, and solidarity and fair responsibility-sharing between member states.

The EU regulation on asylum and migration management sets rules for determining which member state should examine an asylum application. It also ensures fair sharing of responsibility through a mandatory but flexible solidarity system.

The integrated political crisis response (IPCR) arrangements support rapid and coordinated decision-making at EU political level for major and complex crises.

The EU stands with the Syrian people. It supports a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria, the respect for human rights and the country’s socio-economic recovery.

The EU and its member states are intensifying efforts to establish an effective, humanitarian and safe European migration policy.

Irregular migration in the EU: find out the number of irregular arrivals between 2008 and 2025 (infographic).

An overview of the yearly irregular arrivals and fatalities (2014-2026). Discover more in our infographic.

How many migrants arrive irregularly to the EU every year and what are the top nationalities of irregular migrants in the EU? Discover it in our infographic.

Targeting criminal networks that exploit vulnerable migrants is necessary in order not only to fight migrant smuggling, but also to combat human trafficking.