Speaking to Welt am Sonntag on 3 January, Austrian Home-Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner revealed that EU deportations reached 27 % of ordered returns in the first three quarters of 2025, up from 19 % in 2023 and the highest level since 2019.
Brunner credited recently adopted migration-and-asylum reforms—fast-track procedures, expanded detention capacity and intensified cooperation with origin countries—for the jump. Nonetheless, he argued the rate remains "far from sufficient" and pledged further pressure on member states to accelerate removals and establish processing centres in third countries.
![Austrian EU Commissioner Highlights Record-High 27 % Deportation Rate Across Union]()
For Austria, which recorded a 35 % drop in asylum applications last year, tougher EU-wide enforcement reduces the incentive for "asylum shopping" and may lower the administrative burden on regional authorities. Companies employing third-country nationals whose claims are rejected should review termination and repatriation clauses to remain compliant with labour law.
Global-mobility teams also need to monitor potential knock-on effects such as longer security checks for certain nationalities and stricter document controls at Schengen borders—factors that could lengthen employee-onboarding timelines or complicate business-travel itineraries.
Brunner credited recently adopted migration-and-asylum reforms—fast-track procedures, expanded detention capacity and intensified cooperation with origin countries—for the jump. Nonetheless, he argued the rate remains "far from sufficient" and pledged further pressure on member states to accelerate removals and establish processing centres in third countries.
For Austria, which recorded a 35 % drop in asylum applications last year, tougher EU-wide enforcement reduces the incentive for "asylum shopping" and may lower the administrative burden on regional authorities. Companies employing third-country nationals whose claims are rejected should review termination and repatriation clauses to remain compliant with labour law.
Global-mobility teams also need to monitor potential knock-on effects such as longer security checks for certain nationalities and stricter document controls at Schengen borders—factors that could lengthen employee-onboarding timelines or complicate business-travel itineraries.
Source: The International
