Von der Leyen's plan for a tougher approach to migration

 Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, is seeking to review EU border management strategies. Her proposed reforms include increasing the number of European border and coast guards from 10,000 to 30,000 and strengthening the EU's approach to migration and border security.

Von der Leyen's vision, outlined in a recent document, emphasizes a stronger stance against what she calls "hybrid threats" to EU security. These threats relate to external forces that manipulate migration flows for political purposes. To counter this, it plans to strengthen the role of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and strengthen the EU's internal security system by expanding cooperation with Europol.

In his proposal, von der Leyen emphasizes the need for a zero-tolerance policy for activities that endanger the EU's borders. She suggests that hostile actors should face significant sanctions and the EU should adopt a tougher approach to managing migration.

The issue of migration has been a contentious one for the EU, as recent events show. In May, Polish border guards were injured during clashes with migrants on the Belarusian border, prompting a harsh response from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the mobilization of additional resources. In addition, the European Court of Justice recently fined Hungary 200 million euros for persistent violations of asylum rules, underscoring the current challenges in effective migration management.

As von der Leyen prepares for the upcoming elections, her proposed reforms reflect a significant shift towards more robust and strategic management of the EU's borders and migration policy.