At the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 4 June 2026, chaired by the Cypriot Presidency, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner presented the Commission's perspective on Schengen, the Entry/Exit System (EES), the Pact on Migration and Asylum, and the return regulation. The main dispute concerned the future scope of temporary protection for Ukrainians, with Commissioner Brunner noting discussions on possibly excluding men of conscription age (23-60), as requested by Ukrainian authorities. The Cypriot Presidency said many member states are open to changing the scope under certain conditions but raised concerns about safeguards. Commissioner Brunner confirmed the Commission will propose a solution in the coming weeks, having listened to the most affected member states (Czech Republic, Baltic States, Poland, Germany, Austria). There was consensus on prolonging temporary protection beyond March 2027, accelerating Schengen digitalisation, strengthening external borders, and increasing internal security.
Both the Presidency and Commissioner Brunner highlighted the successful conclusion of the return regulation as a key achievement. Commissioner Brunner noted a 55% decrease in illegal crossings over two years and a further 40% in 2026. On the external dimension, there was agreement on using restrictive visa measures against non-cooperative third countries. The EES becoming fully operational on 4 October 2026 was welcomed, with 90 million registrations and 38,000 entry refusals. On Cyprus's Schengen accession, the Presidency expressed confidence for readiness by end-2026, while Commissioner Brunner acknowledged progress but noted the Council's decision. Affected stakeholders include Ukrainian refugees, member states hosting them, and third countries subject to visa measures.