How the EU manages migration flows
The EU has adopted various rules to manage legal migration flows, process asylum requests and return illegal migrants.
Attracting skills and talent
On 27 April 2022, the European Commission presented a communication setting out an approach towards a new and sustainable EU legal migration policy, attracting the skills and talent that the EU needs to address labour shortages and replying to demographic change in Europe.
On the same day, the Commission also presented two proposals to modernise the single permit directive and the long-term residents directive.
Talent pool
The EU is establishing a talent pool, an EU-wide platform. The EU talent pool could raise the profile of the EU and give EU employers improved access to third-country nationals with specific skills. It will be the first EU-wide platform aiming at making international recruitment easier and faster for EU-wide shortage occupations.
It aims to:
- match third-country based jobseekers with EU-based employers
- help to address critical shortages in the EU's domestic labour market
Who is it for?
- jobseekers from third countries
- employers in Europe, specifically in sectors experiencing shortages
- interested member states may join on a voluntary basis
In June 2024, the Council agreed on its negotiating mandate for the EU talent pool. Negotiations between the Danish Presidency and the European Parliament were concluded in November 2025. In March 2026, the Council gave the green light to establish the EU talent pool.
Single permit
The proposal to review the single permit directive, aims to further streamline this procedure to make it easier for member states to attract skills and talent from third countries. The proposal also enhances the protection of migrant workers against exploitation and unequal treatment.
This proposed directive aims to establish:
- a single application procedure for a combined work and residence permit
- a guarantee of a common set of rights for eligible third-country nationals based on equal treatment with nationals of the member state that grants the single permit
- faster processing of an application
- the possibility for single permit holders to change employer
- clear instructions should a single permit holder become unemployed
On 8 June 2023 the Council adopted its general approach. On 20 December the Council and the European Parliament provisionally agreed to update the single permit procedure. The single permit directive was adopted by the Council on the 12 April 2024.
Long-term residents
The Commission's proposal from September 2020 also part of the wider package on legal migration, aims to:
- create a true EU long-term resident status
- strengthen the right of long-term residents to move and work in other member states
The proposal for a directive sets out the conditions under which third-country nationals who have legally and continuously resided in a member state for at least five years can acquire EU long-term or permanent residence permit.
Certain conditions will apply in order for applicants to be able to acquire long-term resident status such as:
- third-country applicants must provide evidence of stable and regular resources that are sufficient to maintain themselves and the members of their family, as well as sickness insurance
- member states may also require third-country nationals to comply with integration conditions
On 23 November 2023, EU member states agreed their negotiating mandate for updating this directive.
Highly skilled workers
On 7 October 2021 the Council adopted the revised blue card directive. The new rules further harmonise the conditions of entry and residence for highly qualified workers from non-EU countries and increase the attractiveness of the EU blue card.
This EU-wide admission system aims to attract and retain highly qualified workers, particularly in sectors facing skills shortages, in particular by:
- establishing more inclusive admission criteria
- facilitating intra-EU mobility
- easing family reunification
- simplifying procedures for recognised employers
- granting a very high level of access to the labour market
Member states will be able to maintain national schemes for highly qualified workers in parallel with the EU blue card scheme. However, the new rules will introduce a number of provisions to ensure that the holders of EU blue cards and their families are not at a disadvantage compared to holders of national permits.
The EU blue card directive was first adopted in 2009. The Commission proposed a reform of the rules in 2016.
EU blue card: attracting talent (infographic)
Resettlement
Resettlement allows refugees in need of protection to enter the EU legally and safely without having to risk their lives by making dangerous journeys.
Since 2015, successful EU-sponsored resettlement schemes have helped more than 98 000 of the most vulnerable people in need of international protection to find shelter in the European Union. Ahead of the implementation of each resettlement scheme, EU countries announce their pledges for how many refugees they plan to welcome.
The 2021-2022 scheme for the first time included pledges for humanitarian admissions, in addition to the pledges for resettlement.
Together with humanitarian admission programmes, EU member states have so far offered protection to about 130 000 people:
- 19 455 in 2015-2017, covering 86% of total pledges
- 45 570 in 2018-2019, covering 91% of total pledges
- 24 656 in 2020-2021, covering 72% of total pledges
- 33 800 in 2021-2022 (almost 5 000 people under resettlement programmes and 28 800 under humanitarian admission programmes)
The implementation period for the 2020-2021 scheme was extended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Member states’ resettlement and humanitarian admission pledges continued to be implemented in the course of 2022.
In July 2022 the European Commission launched the 2023-2025 pledging exercise for resettlement and humanitarian admissions and invited member states to provide:
- pledges for 2023
- a pledging forecast for 2024-2025 (to the extent possible)
In addition to the resettlement schemes, more than 37 300 people have been resettled under the EU-Türkiye Statement of 2016.
In 2016 the European Commission proposed a regulation establishing an EU resettlement framework to provide safe and legal pathways to international protection for those in need. In this way the EU will move from ad hoc resettlement schemes to a more stable framework with greater sustainability and predictability.
- Enhancing legal channels: Commission proposes to create common EU resettlement framework (European Commission, 13 July 2016)
- Recommendation on legal pathways to protection in the EU: promoting resettlement, humanitarian admission and other complementary pathways (European Commission, 23 September 2020)
Other legal migration flows
Students and researchers
In 2016 the EU adopted a directive setting out the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing.
These rules help to:
- promote the EU as a world centre of excellence
- advance the EU in the global competition for talent and leadership
- increase the EU’s overall competitiveness and growth rates
- promote the generation and acquisition of knowledge and skills
- develop solidarity and contribute to stronger social cohesion
- contribute to mutual enrichment and familiarity with other cultures
In addition, the EU promotes the mobility of students, researchers and entrepreneurs through its Erasmus+ programme, which has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. This is nearly double the funding for its predecessor programme (2014-2020). The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
Seasonal workers
The EU economy relies on a high number of seasonal workers from outside the EU as it faces increasing labour shortages.
The Council and the Parliament adopted the seasonal workers directive in 2014. This outlines the conditions under which non-EU nationals may enter and stay in the EU as seasonal workers.
These rules help to:
- harmonise and simplify admission rules across member states
- protect non-EU seasonal workers from exploitation and poor working conditions
- tackle the problem of non-EU seasonal workers staying irregularly in the EU
Intra-corporate transfers
In 2014 the Council and the Parliament adopted a directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer.
Thanks to these new rules, non-EU citizens can apply to be admitted to the EU as managers, specialists or trainee employees in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer.
Family reunification
Family reunification allows those residing legally in the EU to be joined by their family members. This helps non-EU nationals become better integrated into society.
EU rules on family reunification are set out in the directive on the right to family reunification, which establishes common rules for exercising the right to family reunification in the EU (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark).
Asylum seekers
The common European asylum system (CEAS) sets common minimum standards for the treatment of asylum seekers. In practice asylum seekers are not treated uniformly, and recognition rates vary among member states.
As a result, many asylum seekers move within the EU in search of the best country in which to apply for asylum. This phenomenon is known as ’asylum shopping’.
The migration crisis has exacerbated this issue and highlighted the need for the improved harmonisation of asylum procedures and standards.
Asylum applications in the EU (infographic)
Return policy and readmission agreements
The EU’s return policy is based on the return directive. This directive sets clear, transparent and fair rules for returning illegally staying non-EU nationals.
The directive also underlines the need to conclude readmission agreements with third countries. These agreements are crucial to the implementation of the EU’s return policy,. which set out the rules for returning people residing illegally in the EU to their country of origin.
The EU negotiates and concludes readmission agreements with third countries. The Council mandates the Commission to negotiate such agreements with targeted third countries.
The EU has now concluded 18 readmission agreements. The Cotonou agreement (the EU’s framework for relations with 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries) also includes provisions on the return of irregular migrants to their country of origin.
In addition to readmission agreements, the EU has also concluded return arrangements with some third countries with the same objective.
The European Council and the Council regularly emphasises the need to reinforce and improve the effectiveness of the EU policy on return and readmission, through the full implementation of existing readmission agreements and return arrangements and the conclusion of new arrangements.
In September 2018, the Commission proposed a reform of the EU's common rules on return. The proposed changes aim to make the existing rules more effective. On 7 June 2019 the Council agreed on its position on new rules to improve the effectiveness of returns.
In December 2025, the Council agreed its position on new EU rules to make return procedures faster, simpler and more effective for people with no legal right to stay in the EU. The proposed regulation introduces common EU-wide procedures, clearer obligations for returnees and the possibility to establish return hubs in third countries, strengthening cooperation and improving the enforcement of return decisions.
In June 2026, the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the new EU law, paving the way for faster and more effective return procedures across the EU. The agreement complements the migration and asylum pact and supports its effective implementation.
- Council and Parliament reach deal on returns of illegally staying third-country nationals
- Council clinches deal on EU law about returns of illegally staying third-country nationals (8 december 2025)
- Migration policy: Council agrees partial negotiating position on return directive (press release, 7 June 2019)
Last review: 30 March 2025