Croatia welcomes tougher rules on illegal migration and is exempt from solidarity fund

(Photo: MUP)

ZAGREB, 9. December 2025 (Hina) – European Union interior ministers on Monday agreed on a package of tougher rules aimed at curbing illegal migration, with Croatia’s Interior Minister Davor Božinović welcoming the move as a step that will discourage irregular migrants from heading towards Europe in the first place.

Meeting at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, ministers approved measures granting member states broader powers to deport individuals without legal grounds to stay in the EU, as well as provisions enabling the establishment of asylum processing centres outside Europe.

The reforms, promoted by Denmark’s Social Democratic government, which currently holds the EU presidency, also expand the list of “safe” countries.

The updated list now includes EU candidate countries along with Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia, according to Reuters.

Božinović described the session in Brussels as an “effective day”, calling the new measures a continuation of Europe’s growing focus on migration control and a way to prevent irregular migrants from “abusing European legislation”.

He stressed that a stricter approach across other member states – particularly from June next year – would “demotivate” large numbers of illegal migrants from attempting to reach Europe at all.

The package also establishes a new “solidarity fund”, requiring EU members to support countries under heavy migratory pressure either by taking in a share of migrants or by providing financial contributions.

Božinović welcomed the fact that Croatia, along with several other member states, has been exempted from this obligation.

He criticised those who previously warned the fund would pose a heavy burden for Croatia, saying such predictions had now proved unfounded.

“Some will now have a difficult time because they operate only by spreading panic,” he remarked.

The minister also emphasised that officials in Brussels

acknowledged the heavy workload faced by Croatian police at the country’s borders.

More than 64 million travellers and 24 million vehicles have crossed Croatian territory legally this year, he noted.

Despite this pressure, Croatia has “shown that it can manage” and continues to invest in border security as part of the government’s long-term strategy, Božinović added.

“We do not expect any surprises in the years ahead. Those who fear population replacement or spread such narratives across the media and social networks – their efforts are in vain,” he said.