Although Ireland has opted out of the Schengen Area, it continues to participate in certain aspects, such as the Schengen Information System, to manage its borders while collaborating on travel security.

Overall, these developments reflect Europe's evolving approach to migration management, striving to balance robust border control with the protection of fundamental rights.

In 2025, several European nations, including Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland, enacted significant immigration policy changes aimed at enhancing border security and effectively managing migration.

These changes follow the EU's adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum in June 2024, which established new rules for migration management and a common asylum system to bolster security and solidarity among member states.

As part of these efforts, the European Commission proposed a Common European System for Returns to standardize and expedite the deportation process for individuals without legal rights to remain in the EU, despite facing criticism from human rights organizations.

Germany has reported a notable decrease in irregular immigration, attributed to increased deportations and a surge in legal skilled worker immigration, with a 55% rise in repatriations under Chancellor Olaf Scholz's administration.

In a bid to deter smuggling operations, France is currently negotiating a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom to facilitate the return of migrants crossing the Channel illegally.

Italy has also taken steps to address migration challenges by transforming a detention center in Albania into a repatriation hub for migrants whose asylum applications have been denied.

Meanwhile, Cyprus is working towards integrating into the Schengen Area, aligning with necessary standards while still maintaining internal border controls for the time being.

On January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area, eliminating internal border controls and facilitating free movement within the EU.