What changed

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2026)0205

on reinforcingReinforcing development cooperation to address irregular population movements and their root causes in partner countries

(2025/2111(INI))

Committee on Development

PE776.883

European Parliament resolution of 16 June 2026 on reinforcing development cooperation to address irregular population movements and their root causes in partner countries (2025/2111(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission staff working document of 30 June 2021 entitled ‘Applying the Human Rights Based Approach to international partnerships – An updated Toolbox for placing rights-holders at the centre of EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation’ (SWD(2021)0179),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe1,Europe,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 16 July 2025 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Global Europe (COM(2025)0551),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/20132,604/2013,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 11 March 2025 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union, and repealing Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Council Directive 2001/40/EC and Council Decision 2004/191/EC (COM(2025)0101),

– having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part (the Samoa Agreement)3,Agreement),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 June 2025 entitled ‘European Water Resilience Strategy’ (COM(2025)0280),

– having regard to its resolution of 7 May 2025 on the European water resilience strategy4,strategy,

– having regard to the joint communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 1 December 2021 entitled ‘The Global Gateway’ (JOIN(2021)0030),

– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950,

– having regard to the study conducted for its Committee on Development on the role of EU development cooperation in addressing irregular migration in Africa5,Africa,

– having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on a new EU-Africa Strategy – a partnership for sustainable and inclusive development6,development,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Development (A10-0147/2026),

A. whereas migration and mobility, peace, good governance, stability, inclusive growth and sustainable development are strongly interlinked; whereas migration is driven by both macro- and micro-level factors such as armed conflict, political instability, economic hardship, lack of opportunities and poverty, limited access to social protection mechanisms, inadequate service provision, marginalisation, discrimination against or persecution of vulnerable people, including with regard to their freedom of religion or belief, food insecurity and scarce access to clean water, and environmental degradation and climate change7;change;

B. whereas irregular population movements include different categories of migrants, such as refugees and asylum seekers seeking international protection; whereas applicants for international protection can remain in the Member States responsible, pending a decision on their application;

F. whereas the EUTF was created to address the root causes of instability, forced displacement and irregular migration and to contribute to better migration management; whereas the European Court of Auditors found in its review that the EUTF fell short of achieving many of its objectives because effective strategies were not always clearly identified;

G. whereas since 2015, the EU has been facing unprecedented migration flows, the management of which has required sustained effort from Member States, and whereas it is therefore necessary to strengthen European development policies to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, given that over 8.58,5 million requests for asylum were submitted in EU Member States between 2015 and 20248;2024; whereas the irregular border crossings at the EU’s external borders fell by over one quarter (26 %) in 2025 to almost 178 0009;000; whereas a majority of migrants coming to Europe arrive through legal channels; whereas SDG 10 target 7 calls for countries to facilitate the orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people through planned and well-managed migration policies;

H. whereas 4.24,2 million people migrated to the EU from non-EU countries in 202410;2024;

I. whereas many countries of origin of asylum applicants are low- and middle-income countries; whereas acceptance rates for asylum seekers from these countries vary considerably;

J. whereas in 2024, EU countries granted protection status to 437 900 asylum seekers, up 6.96,9 % compared with 2023 (409 530); whereas this was the highest number since the peaks recorded after the refugee crisis related to the war in Syria in 2016 and 2017; whereas the recognition rate at the EU level, meaning the share of positive decisions among the total number of asylum decisions, was 51.451,4 % for first instance decisions in 2024;

K. whereas in 2024, 124 000 non-EU citizens were refused entry into the EU, 919 000 were found without status, 453 000 were issued return decisions and around 110 000 were effectively returned to a country outside the EU11;EU; whereas roughly 20 % of those who were issued return decisions were actually returned12;returned;

L. whereas the most frequent international migration journeys are between neighbouring countries; whereas the large majority of refugees, people in need of international protection and internally displaced people, are hosted in low- and middle-income countries; whereas the economic burden on those countries is heavy and it affects their own social and economic cohesion and development; whereas development cooperation therefore plays a crucial role in supporting displaced populations and host communities;

M. whereas Africa is facing internal migration, with about 80 % of all African migration occurring within the continent; whereas in 2024, sub-Saharan Africa recorded 19.3 million new internal displacements, 11.511,5 million of which were caused by conflict and 7.87,8 million by disasters; whereas the total number of internally displaced people in Africa reached 38.838,8 million between 2015 and 2024, accounting for 46 % of the global total, with 68 % of them coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan;

N. whereas as of June 2025, 117.3117,3 million people had been forced to flee their homes globally due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order; whereas 42.542,5 million of these were refugees, 67.867,8 million were internally displaced people, and 8.428,42 million were asylum seekers13;seekers;

O. whereas the Global Trends Report and surveys of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) show that most refugees and displaced people do not want to leave their countries but are compelled by threats such as conflict, persecution, violence or extreme hardship; whereas a 2023 UNHCR survey found that the vast majority of refugees would prefer to remain in their communities if their security and livelihoods were guaranteed;

R. whereas increased fragility, also in relation to climate change and environmental degradation, and the depletion and overexploitation of natural resources, may have an impact on migration; whereas 90 % of all natural disasters are water-related, with possible impacts on food insecurity, increased societal conflict and migration;

S. whereas high levels of food insecurity lead to higher levels of migration across borders, with each 1 % increase in food insecurity in a population compelling 1.91,9 % more people to migrate; whereas, while economic and environmental drivers do not alone constitute grounds for asylum, they significantly contribute to vulnerability factors that may require an international comprehensive protection-oriented response;

T. whereas migration flows are often linked to the scarcity of natural resources, including water; whereas 2.22,2 billion individuals worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water; whereas the European water resilience strategy aims at promoting water resilience and ensuring access to improved drinking water and sanitation for at least 70 million individuals through reinforced country and regional engagement under the Global Gateway;

U. whereas the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum emphasises the importance of the external dimension of migration by developing comprehensive partnerships based on political dialogue, mutual commitment and a whole-of-route approach;

18. Calls on the Commission to further support countries of origin and neighbouring host countries in dealing with increased intercontinental migration flows;

19. Underlines that public development funding is crucial for partner countries and that private investment can contribute to achieving the objectives of EU development policy, notes that investment guarantees from the EU encourage companies to make investments, provided that rigorous due diligence is conducted to ensure compliance with social, environmental and governance standards, as well as alignment with the SDGs; recalls that achieving the SDGs is essential to improving livelihoods in third countries;

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen their capacity to prevent and respond to the instrumentalisation of migrants; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation with partner countries and relevant agencies to detect, prevent and counter such actions;

20. Calls for EU financial instruments and the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus and the European Investment Bank to aim at generating local economic returns with a view to strengthening economic autonomy and long-term sustainability;

20. Underlines that public development funding is crucial for partner countries and that private investment can contribute to achieving the objectives of EU development policy, notes that investment guarantees from the EU encourage companies to make investments, provided that rigorous due diligence is conducted to ensure compliance with social, environmental and governance standards, as well as alignment with the SDGs; recalls that achieving the SDGs is essential to improving livelihoods in third countries;

21. Recalls that ODA remains a vital tool for reducing poverty and for addressing inequalities and supporting the most vulnerable communities; strongly criticises the drastic cuts to ODA made by leading global donors; calls for the EU and its Member States to respect their commitment to spend 0.7 % of gross national income on ODA;

21. Calls for EU financial instruments and the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus and the European Investment Bank to aim at generating local economic returns with a view to strengthening economic autonomy and long-term sustainability;

22. Calls on the Commission to ensure greater accountability, transparency and parliamentary oversight in the design and implementation of all EU funding including the upcoming Global Europe Instrument, which must prioritise the implementation of the SDGs, also with regard to addressing irregular migration challenges;

22. Recalls that ODA remains a vital tool for reducing poverty and for addressing inequalities and supporting the most vulnerable communities; strongly criticises the drastic cuts to ODA made by leading global donors; calls for the EU and its Member States to respect their commitment to spend 0,7 % of gross national income on ODA;

23. Stresses that agricultural and rural development, along with food and nutrition policy, can contribute to the response to some of the root causes of migration; recalls that access to land and natural resources is crucial in ensuring the food and nutrition security of local communities, to improve the productivity of small farmers while adapting production to climate change and to promote the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenures, which prioritise the rights and needs of legitimate holders of land rights, especially women;

23. Calls on the Commission to ensure greater accountability, transparency and parliamentary oversight in the design and implementation of all EU funding including the upcoming Global Europe Instrument, which must prioritise the implementation of the SDGs, also with regard to addressing irregular migration challenges;

24. Invites the Commission to increase support for higher education institutions and technical and vocational education and training in partner countries as part of its development strategy as a means to address the root causes of migration; underlines the importance of strengthening human development by investing in skills locally; calls on the Commission to assist partner countries in capacity building in this regard; calls, furthermore, for increased support for youth-led initiatives to strengthen skills, innovation and exchange and to harness migration as a driver of sustainable development;

24. Stresses that agricultural and rural development, along with food and nutrition policy, can contribute to the response to some of the root causes of migration; recalls that access to land and natural resources is crucial in ensuring the food and nutrition security of local communities, to improve the productivity of small farmers while adapting production to climate change and to promote the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenures, which prioritise the rights and needs of legitimate holders of land rights, especially women;

25. Calls on the Commission to further explore EU talent partnerships with more third countries, especially those with high levels of emigration;

25. Invites the Commission to increase support for higher education institutions and technical and vocational education and training in partner countries as part of its development strategy as a means to address the root causes of migration; underlines the importance of strengthening human development by investing in skills locally; calls on the Commission to assist partner countries in capacity building in this regard; calls, furthermore, for increased support for youth-led initiatives to strengthen skills, innovation and exchange and to harness migration as a driver of sustainable development;

26. Emphasises that economic empowerment and the creation of decent jobs are primary tools for reducing inequalities and that they improve livelihoods in the countries of origin and thus limit the reasons for irregular migration; calls for EU funding to also support local entrepreneurship and public infrastructure;

26. Calls on the Commission to further explore EU talent partnerships with more third countries, especially those with high levels of emigration;

27. Stresses that young people must be at the heart of partnerships and are essential for sustainable development; underlines the importance of supporting exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ and other youth mobility and skills programmes to provide education and employment opportunities, and give young people the choice to thrive in their countries of origin;

27. Emphasises that economic empowerment and the creation of decent jobs are primary tools for reducing inequalities and that they improve livelihoods in the countries of origin and thus limit the reasons for irregular migration; calls for EU funding to also support local entrepreneurship and public infrastructure;

28. Calls on the Commission to include agriculture and water management among its priorities for cooperation, promoting projects that improve self-sufficiency and reduce migratory pressure;

28. Stresses that young people must be at the heart of partnerships and are essential for sustainable development; underlines the importance of supporting exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ and other youth mobility and skills programmes to provide education and employment opportunities, and give young people the choice to thrive in their countries of origin;

29. Notes that migration and brain drain can pose challenges to a partner country’s development by reducing the available skilled workforce; recalls that development cooperation can mitigate this risk through comprehensive strategies supporting quality education and training systems, strengthening local employment opportunities and promoting knowledge and skills transfer; calls on the Commission, therefore, to continue its work in this area, including addressing the issue of brain drain through the development policy framework and funding;

29. Calls on the Commission to include agriculture and water management among its priorities for cooperation, promoting projects that improve self-sufficiency and reduce migratory pressure;

30. Recognises the crucial role of diaspora communities in fostering sustainable development, investment and innovation in their countries of origin; stresses that empowering diaspora networks creates reciprocal benefits for both partner countries and the EU; calls for the EU and its Member States to enhance engagement with diaspora organisations and to develop inclusive programmes which contribute to mutually beneficial forms of circular migration;

30. Notes that migration and brain drain can pose challenges to a partner country’s development by reducing the available skilled workforce; recalls that development cooperation can mitigate this risk through comprehensive strategies supporting quality education and training systems, strengthening local employment opportunities and promoting knowledge and skills transfer; calls on the Commission, therefore, to continue its work in this area, including addressing the issue of brain drain through the development policy framework and funding;

31. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to invest in awareness-raising campaigns both within the EU and in third countries to fight disinformation and disseminate information about the risks of irregular migration and to promote understanding about EU rules on labour migration obligations;

31. Recognises the crucial role of diaspora communities in fostering sustainable development, investment and innovation in their countries of origin; stresses that empowering diaspora networks creates reciprocal benefits for both partner countries and the EU; calls for the EU and its Member States to enhance engagement with diaspora organisations and to develop inclusive programmes which contribute to mutually beneficial forms of circular migration;

32. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increaseinvest fundingin forawareness-raising improvingcampaigns both within the ruleEU ofand law,in democracythird support,countries stateto fight disinformation and capacitydisseminate building,information andabout publicthe servicesrisks includingof health,irregular accessmigration and to cleanpromote waterunderstanding andabout education;EU rules on labour migration obligations;

33. Reaffirms that a holistic approach that combines development cooperation and migration management is essential to effectively ensure security and solidarity both within the EU and in countries of origin and transit;

33. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase funding for improving the rule of law, democracy support, state and capacity building, and public services including health, access to clean water and education;

34. Welcomes the crucial work of humanitarian, development and peace actors, most notably UN organisations, other international organisations and local actors, including local authorities, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, women’s organisations, youth organisations and non-governmental organisations, and faith-based communities and organisations;

34. Reaffirms that a holistic approach that combines development cooperation and migration management is essential to effectively ensure security and solidarity both within the EU and in countries of origin and transit;

35. Welcomes the crucial work of humanitarian, development and peace actors, most notably UN organisations, other international organisations and local actors, including local authorities, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, women’s organisations, youth organisations and non-governmental organisations, and faith-based communities and organisations;

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35.36. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Coherence is paramount

Threats to the pillars of our European way of life, such as liberal democracy, individual freedom, and security concerns, coupled with demographic decline in Europe’s societies and its negative impacts on the economy and the welfare systems, make irregular and labour migration issues of central importance for Europe’s citizens and responsible governance.

Fighting poverty is the main motive for development aid. It is directly rooted in the very European values which are at stake. At the same time other policy areas such as those addressed above – fighting irregular migration, thriving for integration, tackling threats against our societies and the peoples’ security, and overcoming the demographic winter – have to be seen also in their interdependencies, especially with development policies.

Therefore, this file aims to connect policy areas for the sake of better EU policymaking in the interest of coherent decisions and better future prospects for citizens not just in Europe, but all around the world.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the report, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

ActionAid, Caritas Europa, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, International Rescue Committee Inc, Save the Children Europe, WaterAid, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

5.5.2026

Result of final vote

+ : 16

- : 6

0 : 0

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

16

+

ECR

Paolo Inselvini

PPE

Mika Aaltola, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Niels Geuking, Lukas Mandl, Liudas Mazylis

Renew

Charles Goerens, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Hilde Vautmans

S&D

Robert Biedron, Udo Bullmann, Murielle Laurent, Leire Pajín, Marco Tarquinio

Verts/ALE

Isabella Lövin, Ana Miranda Paz

6

-

ECR

Malgorzata Gosiewska

ESN

Tomasz Froelich

PfE

György Hölvényi, Thierry Mariani, Tiago Moreira de Sá

The Left

Damien Carême

0

0

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions