EU Intensifies Deportation of Migrants: Which Countries Are Carrying Out the Most Expulsions

The European Union continues to strengthen its migration policy. The number of new migrants and asylum seekers in the EU is decreasing, while the number of deportation decisions and actual expulsions is increasing. This is evidenced by new data from Eurostat.

Euronews reports on this here.

According to the statistical office, the number of new migrants arriving in the European Union decreased from 5.4 million in 2022 to 4.5 million in 2024. This is nearly a quarter less.

At the same time, in 2025, only 361 thousand individuals received international protection status. This is the lowest figure since 2019.

Germany, France, and Sweden Lead in Deportations

Amid decreasing migration flows, EU countries are increasingly implementing procedures for returning foreigners to their countries of origin.

In 2025, the number of deportation decisions approached 500 thousand, the highest figure since 2019. Meanwhile, around 155 thousand individuals were actually expelled, the largest number since 2020.

The most frequently deported nationals from the EU were:

• From Turkey - over 13 thousand individuals;
• From Georgia - 10,475 individuals;
• From Syria - 8,370 individuals;
• From Albania - 8,020 individuals.

Among EU member states, Germany conducted the most deportations - nearly 30 thousand. France came in second with nearly 15 thousand expelled foreigners, and Sweden took third place with over 11 thousand deportations.

Poland Became the Leader in Denials of Entry

Separately, the number of cases of non-admittance of foreigners through external borders is increasing in the EU.

In 2025, entry to EU countries was prohibited for 133 thousand individuals, exceeding the figures of the two previous years.

The most common reason for denial was the absence of a confirmed purpose of stay or necessary documents. Other grounds included expired permitted stay, lack of a visa, or warning from law enforcement authorities.

Poland recorded the highest number of entry denials - nearly 30 thousand cases. France ranked second, where over 12 thousand individuals were not allowed to enter at the border.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, stated that the EU is completing the largest reform of the migration system in the history of the bloc. One of the key elements will be the Entry/Exit system, which aims to strengthen control at the EU's external borders.

For Ukrainians, these changes mean that EU countries will increasingly tighten their control over compliance with migration rules. At the same time, the new measures are primarily aimed at combating illegal migration and violations of stay regimes, and not at Ukrainian citizens utilizing temporary protection mechanisms.

Earlier, we wrote about whether Poland deports Ukrainians for traffic violations.