Our Key Policy Areas

At the core of our mission is crafting and implementing legislation in the fields of migration and home affairs. Our policy specialists work closely with expert groups and networks to assess the current situation, identify gaps, and propose new rules to improve the EU framework.

Our department drafts legislative measures and ensures their consistent application across all EU member states, particularly in these essential areas:

Schengen, Borders, and Visas

The Schengen Area represents one of the EU's greatest achievements, allowing individuals to move freely across borders. With systems like the Visa Information System (VIS) and the Schengen Information System (SIS), EU countries can effectively exchange data and maintain security within this border-free zone.

Migration and Asylum

EU countries follow a unified approach to asylum processing and migration policies. We set standards for legal migration related to employment and education, while focusing on an efficient system for managing irregular migration.

Internal Security

From counter-terrorism measures to combatting organized crime and human trafficking, our harmonized security policies across EU countries help ensure a safer Europe. Recently, our focus has expanded to cybercrime prevention and defense against cyberattacks.

Law Enforcement Cooperation

To address cross-border crime and terrorism, EU law enforcement agencies share information through systems like the Passenger Name Record (PNR) data collected by airlines. Europol plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts.

Global Partnerships

Migration and security issues extend beyond Europe. We collaborate with countries worldwide and international organizations on vital topics, including border management, mobility, fighting terrorism, and preventing migrant smuggling.