EU’s Ex-Foreign Policy Chief Blasts Migration Deal Betrayal
Josep Borrell, the EU's former foreign policy chief, harshly criticized the bloc's new migration deal for abandoning humanitarian principles by paying third countries to host return platforms.
Borrell, who served as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2019 through late 2024, took to social media to denounce the European Council’s recent approval of expanded cooperation agreements with third countries, according to Brussels Signal.
The former diplomat wrote in Spanish that the EU has approved paying third countries to establish return platforms for irregular migrants, describing the move as a resignation from humanitarian principles. He compared the strategy unfavorably to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Albania processing plan and Britain’s failed Rwanda scheme, calling such approaches both expensive and inefficient.
Council Approves Third Country Return Centers
The European Council recently greenlit financial agreements with nations across North Africa, the Balkans, and other regions to host processing or return facilities for migrants who entered the EU illegally. The deals aim to accelerate deportations and relieve pressure on European borders.
Brussels has increasingly shifted toward externalizing border control in recent years, offering substantial financial packages to countries including Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritania, and Albania to manage migration flows before they reach European soil.
Deep Divide Within European Establishment
Borrell’s criticism exposes the widening rift within European leadership over migration policy. During his five-year tenure as the EU’s top diplomat, he championed open-border policies, humanitarian corridors, and mass relocation programs.
Supporters of the new approach argue these third-country arrangements are essential to regaining control over irregular migration. Critics contend the deals represent a moral capitulation and will prove ineffective in practice.
Migration Numbers Drop Sharply
Despite Borrell’s objections, official statistics show irregular migration into the EU has fallen dramatically in 2026. Frontex data reveals irregular border crossings declined approximately 40 percent during the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2025, with just over 28,500 detections recorded.
The downward trend, which began in 2025, has been attributed to stricter external agreements, enhanced cooperation with origin and transit countries, and strengthened border enforcement measures.
The clash over migration policy comes as European nations face mounting public pressure to control borders while Brussels bureaucrats continue defending failed open-border ideologies that have contributed to years of uncontrolled migration flows across the continent.
With information from Brussels Signal
