The five areas identified in the plan are:

• Increasing cooperation with partner countries to prevent irregular migration: The plan foresees stronger cooperation with partner countries, focusing on addressing the root causes of irregular migration, creating meaningful opportunities in countries of origin and promoting safe and legal mobility to the EU. It also provides for a stronger crisis management dimension, with early warning mechanisms and protocols, closer cooperation between Frontex, Europol, Eurojust and partner countries, and the development of EUROSUR Coordination Centres to strengthen pre-frontier intelligence exchange and risk assessment.
   
• Strengthening the EU’s external borders: While protecting the EU’s external borders remains primarily a Member State responsibility, the plan foresees stronger EU support. This includes work on a new European Emergency Response Framework, a reinforced Frontex mandate with a stronger Standing Corps, immediate deployment capabilities, a stronger role in returns and closer cooperation with partner countries, as well as targeted support for sensitive border segments. Support through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism would also be available upon request from Member States.
   
• Improving monitoring, situational awareness and early warning systems: The plan aims to strengthen the monitoring and sharing of information on developments affecting the EU’s external borders, both on the ground and online. This includes more systematic use of the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), enhanced monitoring by Frontex, including on social media, and faster responses to emerging migration trends and disinformation through initiatives such as the Global Alliance Rapid Response Initiatives (GARRI). It also foresees stronger cooperation with online platforms, national authorities and partner countries, including through new frameworks under the Digital Services Act and digital partnerships.
   
• Dismantling migrant smuggling and trafficking networks: The plan proposes to strengthen the legal, operational and financial measures used to tackle these networks, including through the proposed sanctions regime, the revised Facilitation Directive and the new Europol mandate. It also foresees closer cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities, including with countries along key migration routes, as well as stronger cooperation with online platforms, financial institutions and digital payment service providers to detect and disrupt illicit activities and financial flows.
   
• Reinforcing an effective return and readmission framework: The plan foresees stronger cooperation with third countries on readmission, alongside support for their national return and reintegration capacities. It also provides for a stronger role for Frontex in return operations and greater use of digital tools in return and readmission procedures. Member States are called on to implement the new Return Regulation and return border procedure and to make wider use of existing Frontex support, including for return, readmission and reintegration.

The five-point plan will be presented to Member States at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 1–2 October 2026. The Commission envisages coordinated implementation by the Member States, EU JHA agencies and the Commission.

For further information, see the European Commission’s press release. The full details of the measures set out in the five-point plan are available in the document attached below.