Responsibilities
A safer and more secure Europe
As Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner is responsible for strengthening Europe’s internal security, designing and upgrading EU legislation, policies and operational responses to meet the many threats we face and ensure every European citizen’s basic right to feel safe is met.
He is tasked with:
- designing and implementing a new European Internal Security Strategy, looking at all threats online and offline
- leading efforts on the fight against serious and organised crime, notably by proposing a new European action plan against drug trafficking, a renewed EU action plan on firearms and by leading the work on the fight against cybercrime
- leading the work to better protect children against sexual abuse online and offline
- leading the work on a new Counter-Terrorism Agenda to address new and emerging threats
- ensuring that the critical physical and digital infrastructure is secure and resilient
- working to develop and deploy a new European Critical Communication System to be used by public authorities in charge of security and safety
- ensuring Europol becomes a truly operational police agency
- working with Member States to improve the safety and security of Jewish and Muslim communities
Read more about the European Security Union and about the EU’s agenda to tackle organised crime and counter-terrorism.
Stronger common borders
Magnus Brunner will also oversee the Commission’s efforts to deliver a stronger, more agile and fully digitalised common border.
He is responsible for:
- promoting integrated border management and overseeing the strengthening of Frontex
- ensuring a fully functional European digital border management with a new interoperable IT architecture and digitalised visa procedures
- working with Member States and stakeholders to prepare and respond to hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants at the EU’s external borders
- developing an EU visa policy strategy together with non-EU countries
- implementing recent improvements to the Schengen framework
Read more about Frontex.
Standing fair and firm on migration
Commissioner Brunner will also be responsible for migration issues. On this front, he will work together with Member States and EU agencies to manage migration effectively, firmly and fairly.
He is tasked with:
- overseeing the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and preparation of the first five-year European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy
- developing a new common approach on the return of irregular migrants that is modern, simplified, dignified and recognised across Europe
- leading the work in the fight against smugglers and people traffickers, including by working with international partners
- working with Member States on a stronger coordination of rescue operations
- working on legal migration to attract people with the right skills to match local labour market needs, as well as on legal pathways for refugees and a strategy for their integration
- reviewing, where necessary, the rules on preventing exploitation of workers in Europe with an irregular status
Read more about the EU’s approach to migration and asylum.
Calendar
- Munich, Germany
- Munich, Germany
Transparency
Meetings and missions
As part of the Commission's commitment to transparency, Commissioners and their Cabinet members publish information on and minutes of all meetings they hold with interest representatives. Every two months, they also publish an overview of mission expenses.
- Meetings with Commissioner Brunner
- Meetings with Commissioner Brunner's Cabinet members
- Missions of Commissioner Brunner
European Parliament hearings
Read Commissioner Brunner's answers to the European Parliament questionnaire.
Declaration of interests
In line with the Commission's Code of Conduct for Members of the Commission, each Member of the Commission publishes a declaration of interests. The declarations of the Commissioners-designate can be found on the European Parliament’s website, where they were published before the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners.
The declarations of interests of the new Members of the Commission will be updated and published here at the beginning of 2025 in line with Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission. Machine-readable versions of all declarations will also be made available in line with the requirements of the Code of Conduct. The declarations of interests follow the requirements set out in Article 3 and Annex 1 of the Code of Conduct for Commissioners.
Biography
- 2024-present
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
- 2021-2024
Federal Minister of Finance
- 2020-2021
State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
- 2018-2020
Vice-President of the Federal Council
- 2009-2020
Member of the Federal Council (ÖVP)
- 2007-2020
Member of the Board, OeMAG Abwicklungsstelle für Ökostrom AG
- 2006
Head of Corporate Development, Communications and Strategic Development, Illwerke VKw Group
- 2002-2005
Political Director, Austrian Economic Association (Österreichischer Wirtschaftsbund)
- 2000-2004
Member of the Council of Höchst