Europe's asylum crackdown: How far-right influence is reshaping migration policies

Europe’s approach to asylum and migration has long balanced openness with strict control. For three decades, policies have mixed liberalised rights with tougher border measures. Now, a fresh push by conservative and far-right groups is accelerating deportations—raising concerns about the future of humanitarian protections. The roots of modern refugee law stretch back to the 1930s, shaped by the struggles of Jewish migrants fleeing persecution. These principles formed the basis for later humanitarian safeguards. Yet Europe’s current system reflects a stark contrast: while EU integration expanded asylum rights in many countries, it also introduced repressive tools like Frontex and migration deals with third nations.

The latest shift comes from a growing alliance between conservative and far-right factions in the European Parliament. Their joint efforts aim to speed up deportations and tighten rules further. The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) already marks a significant hardening of existing policies, reducing protections for those seeking refuge. Legal experts warn that these changes risk eroding human rights safeguards. Maximilian Pichl, a professor of social welfare law at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, highlights how such measures fit into a broader authoritarian trend. Without strong legal protections, he argues, Europe could move closer to sealing itself off entirely.

The debate over asylum rules continues to divide European lawmakers. As deportations increase and legal pathways narrow, the role of humanitarian law faces fresh challenges. The outcome will determine whether Europe maintains its long-standing balance—or shifts toward a far more restrictive model. This discussion is supported by the Berthold Leibinger Stiftung, with reporting led by Dinah Riese, former migration and integration correspondent for our website.