Europe tightens migration controls as arrivals fall and border measures expand
European countries announced new migration-related measures on Tuesday, with the Netherlands reporting a third consecutive annual decline in immigration, the United Kingdom unveiling plans to recover asylum support costs from some refugees, and Lithuania deploying border guards to help Latvia curb irregular migration.
Dutch immigration falls for third year
Immigration to the Netherlands declined for the third consecutive year in 2025, with lower numbers of asylum seekers and highly skilled workers from outside the European Union driving the decrease, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
The country received 309,000 immigrants last year, around 8,000 fewer than in 2024.
About 35,000 asylum seekers arrived during the year, down by more than 4,000 compared with 2024, accounting for roughly 11% of total immigration.
The number of highly skilled migrants from outside the EU also continued to fall, declining from 26,000 in 2022 to 14,000 in 2025, with the steepest drop recorded among migrants from India.
CBS said about half of all immigrants came from outside the EU and the European Economic Area, while 37% arrived from EU and EEA countries. A further 14% were Dutch nationals returning after living abroad.
The decline follows a record rise in immigration in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
UK plans to recover asylum support costs
The British government announced plans to require some asylum seekers to repay the cost of accommodation and financial support once they have sufficient means.
Under the proposed Immigration and Asylum Bill, eligible adults would make monthly repayments toward the cost of asylum support they received, with total contributions expected to average around £10,000 ($13,000).
Migrants would be required to complete repayments before becoming eligible for permanent settlement, while those leaving the UK would need to settle outstanding amounts before being allowed to return.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measures were intended to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers while ensuring migrants who could contribute did so.
The government said asylum accommodation and support cost around £4 billion last year, adding that it had already reduced spending by £1 billion and closed 31 asylum hotels since April.
Human rights groups criticised the proposals, arguing they could further restrict refugee protections, while migration experts said the measures would make Britain's immigration system more restrictive.
Lithuania sends guards to Latvia
Lithuania will deploy nine border guards to Latvia for two weeks in July to help secure the Latvian-Belarusian border amid increasing irregular migration pressure.
The officers, including two dog handlers, will assist with surveillance and border security operations in high-risk areas.
According to Lithuania's State Border Guard Service, secondary migration through Latvia has increased more than fourfold this year.
Latvian authorities have detained, turned back or prevented about 6,600 migrants from crossing the Belarusian border so far this year.
In Lithuania, officials have recorded more than 1,600 attempted illegal crossings from Belarus in 2025, compared with just over 1,000 during the same period last year.
Since the migration crisis began in 2021, Lithuanian authorities say they have prevented more than 25,000 irregular border crossings from Belarus.
Source:AA
