Ursula von der Leyen's Vision for a Secure Europe: Border Management Reform and Migrant Policy Overhaul

Ursula von der Leyen has pledged substantial reforms in border management, including strengthening Frontex and Europol and proposing a new migrant return policy, in her bid for a second term as European Commission President. She aims to triple European border guards and sanction hostile actors exploiting borders for political purposes.

Ursula von der Leyen has pledged significant reforms in border management, aiming to strengthen Frontex and Europol, and introduce a comprehensive migrant return policy, if elected for a second five-year term as European Commission President.

In her 31-page vision document, released ahead of Thursday's EU lawmakers' vote, von der Leyen proposed tripling the number of European border and coast guards to 30,000. "We will show no tolerance for those who threaten the security of our borders and our citizens with hybrid attacks," she declared.

Furthermore, von der Leyen emphasized recognizing and sanctioning hostile actors who exploit the EU's external borders for political gains. She also revealed plans to appoint dedicated commissioners for EU enlargement and Mediterranean relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)