EU Migration Pact Aims to Deter ‘Hostile’ States from Weaponising Migrants, Says Rights Agency

The European Union’s upcoming migration pact may equip member states with stronger tools to prevent “hostile actors” from manipulating the movement of migrants and refugees for political leverage, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) said in a report published on Wednesday.

According to the FRA, several non-EU countries have used migrants and refugees as instruments of pressure, intentionally directing them toward the EU’s external borders to exploit humanitarian vulnerabilities for geopolitical gains.

Highlights from the FRA Paper

Instrumentalisation of Migrants: A Growing Threat

The FRA notes that some third countries—most notably Belarus and Russia—have been funnelling people from conflict-ridden regions such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ethiopia to EU borders, particularly those shared with Poland, as a means of political coercion.

Poland has repeatedly accused its eastern neighbours of organising flights and land transport for migrants before directing them towards the EU’s borders. In response, rights groups have accused Warsaw of unlawful pushbacks and the use of violent methods to deny entry.

60 deaths were recorded along the EU–Belarus border in 2023 and 2024, many resulting from hypothermia, as migrants remained stranded in harsh weather without adequate support, according to the FRA.

Measures Proposed in the EU Pact

The migration pact proposes several mechanisms to counter these strategies while aiming to maintain fundamental rights protections:

• Accelerated Return Procedures
  Allowing quicker deportation of asylum seekers whose claims are rejected.
• Targeted Sanctions
  Including visa restrictions and diplomatic measures against countries found to be engaging in the instrumentalisation of migrants.
• Asylum Prioritisation
  EU states may prioritise claims from migrants suspected of being used in political strategies, with the deployment of additional personnel to fast-track assessments.

“The effective and speedy implementation of return procedures in full respect of applicable safeguards may discourage the instrumentalisation of migrants and refugees,” the FRA report stated.

Human Rights: A Non-Negotiable Line

Despite the increased focus on deterrence and enforcement, the FRA warned that fundamental rights must remain intact throughout all measures enacted under the pact.

“Certain rights, such as the prohibition of torture or sending people back to where their lives and freedom are at risk, are absolute. They cannot be limited under any circumstances,” the report emphasised.

FRA Director Sirpa Rautio urged governments to shift their focus away from migrants and towards the real culprits:

“Instead of punishing migrants and refugees who are being used and abused for political gains, EU countries need to direct their measures towards the hostile actors,” she said.

She added that some current border responses risk undermining basic EU commitments, including the right to asylum.

Outlook

The migration pact, once in effect, may reshape the way EU countries respond to sudden inflows of people triggered by political manipulation. While the measures outlined aim to uphold security and sovereignty, the FRA continues to stress that adherence to international law and human dignity must remain at the core of all responses.