European leaders have agreed to accelerate measures to combat illegal immigration, following a summit in Brussels.

The European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is set to propose new legislation to enhance the return of rejected asylum seekers.

This move aims to address the low execution rate of expulsion orders, currently at 20%.

The summit also discussed innovative solutions, such as outsourcing asylum processing to third countries, a model recently adopted by Italy with Albania.

However, this approach has faced criticism, with French Prime Minister Michel Barnier stating it is not feasible for France due to legal and institutional reasons.

Meanwhile, France and Italy are collaborating to establish a joint unit by 2025 to tackle migrant smuggling networks, reflecting a broader European effort to manage migration more effectively.