European Commission supports Portuguese plan to expel illegal immigrants

The European Commission says that the Portuguese government’s measures to expel illegal immigrants are “in compliance” with the institution’s recommendations, highlighting that the country is “implementing well” the new European migration pact.
“The measures that the government presented in May are in line with the current European Union [EU] rules, as far as we know. Therefore, Portugal’s approach is in accordance with our recommendations, constituting an example of good practices in action,” said Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, in a written interview with the Lusa agency.
On the day he begins a two-day visit to Portugal to meet with Portuguese authorities to discuss EU internal matters, he emphasized that “the return of people without the right to stay [in Europe] is a priority for the Commission.”
“Currently, only one in five people who have a return decision is actually returned, and this is something we absolutely need to change [because] we need to put our European house in order,” he adds.
This position comes after, in early May, the Portuguese government announced that the Agency for Migration and Asylum Integration (AIMA) will start notifying foreign citizens to voluntarily leave the country within 20 days.
The government has already warned that illegal immigrants will have to leave Portugal.
With just a few months until the EU fully implements a new Pact on Migration and Asylum, Magnus Brunner stated to Lusa that he has “very good contact with the Portuguese government,” particularly regarding these “new rules to manage migration in a firm and fair manner.”
“Portugal is doing very well in taking the necessary measures to ensure that it is prepared when the pact comes into force in 2026,” he added.
As an example, he listed the measures adopted by Portugal to reorganize AIMA, “in order to make it more efficient, diligent, and capable of facing challenges,” fitting into the pact to allow for an “improvement of migration management capacities.”
Brussels also provides operational and financial support, and according to the European supervisor, an additional 73 million euros have recently been mobilized to Portugal.
The new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted in May 2024 and aims to combat illegal immigration and mandatory solidarity among member states through the sharing of burdens among countries.
The pact will only come into force in mid-2026 given the necessary adaptation period for the national legislations of the 27 member states.
Enhanced control of migrant arrivals in the EU, faster transfers of those without the right to asylum, and a mandatory solidarity mechanism benefiting member states under greater migratory pressure are planned.
In March of this year, the European Commission proposed the creation of a common European system for the return of illegal migrants, suggesting repatriation to safe third countries and forced processes for these people in irregular situations in the EU.
It is estimated that only about 20% of nationals from third countries required to leave the community space actually do so, escaping the authorities and moving to other EU countries.