EU Leaders to discuss stricter migration laws.

European Union leaders are set to meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss tighter migration controls, driven by the rise in support for far-right movements across the bloc.

The summit will address how to better manage irregular migration, alongside discussions on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine.

In a letter inviting EU leaders to the summit, EU Council President, Charles Michel highlighted the need for concrete action to tackle irregular migration.

He outlined plans to enhance control of the EU’s external borders, strengthen partnerships with non-EU countries, and improve return policies for those entering the EU without authorization.

The move comes as the number of irregular migrants entering the 27-member bloc has significantly decreased compared to the height of the migration crisis in 2015, and according to Frontex, the EU’s border agency, only 166,000 irregular migrants arrived in the first nine months of 2024, continuing a downward trend from last year.