Home affairs

What the EU does

An example of innovative SMEs in the management of biometric data at Lisbon Airport..

The EU aims at ensuring the security of the Schengen area, developing a common EU migration and asylum policy, building a safer Europe and promoting cooperation with non-EU countries. The European Commission works closely with the EU countries and European agencies, international organisations and other stakeholders to develop and implement these policies. They help protect and sustain the area of freedom, security and justice.

Facts about home affairs

Countries of the Schengen area: 25 EU countries and 4 associated countries

of total EU population are non-EU citizens

1,5%

of EU population are refugees

Areas of action

Schengen, borders and visa

Area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers

Internal security

Policies and actions aimed at ensuring a safer and more secure Europe

Migration and Asylum

Rules managing migration and establishing a common asylum system at EU level

Law enforcement cooperation

Facilitating quicker, safer, and more structured law enforcement cooperation to combat cross-border crime and terrorism in the EU

International affairs

Partnering globally to tackle the external dimension of our Home Affairs policies

Key achievements

In 2025, the EU celebrates the 40th anniversary of Schengen. 29 countries (25 EU and 4 associated) are full members of the Schengen area where 450 million people can travel without passport control. It helps millions of people who cross borders daily and 31 million enterprises who may benefit from easier access to the internal market.
The Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force in 2024, offering a comprehensive approach that aims at strengthening and integrating key EU policies on migration, asylum, border management and integration. With firm but fair rules, it is designed to manage and normalise migration for the long term.
More recently, in 2025, the Commission proposed a Common European System for Returns, a new legal framework with the aim to have swifter, simpler and more effective return procedures across the European Union, complementing the new EU rules on migration and asylum.
In 2025, the Commission presented ProtectEU, the new European Internal Security Strategy. The strategy sets out a vision for a stronger EU. Its goals are to jointly anticipate, prevent and respond to security threats, ensuring peace, stability and prosperity for EU citizens.

In focus

ProtectEU – the EU’s new internal security strategy

ProtectEU addresses the evolving threat landscape and has three main objectives: stepping up capabilities to protect people, mainstreaming security considerations in EU policy and external action, and reinforcing a whole-of-society approach to ensure comprehensive security and safety.

Topics covered by the strategy include: