Jean-Paul Garraud, a French MEP from the Patriots for Europe group, has asked the European Commission to clarify how it distinguishes between asylum seekers and economic migrants, citing Frontex data showing a 46% increase in irregular crossings on the Western Mediterranean route, mainly from Algeria. In a written parliamentary question dated 2 July 2026, Garraud noted that a significant proportion of arrivals come from countries not experiencing armed conflict, such as Maghreb states, Bangladesh, Türkiye and Senegal.
The MEP's three-part question seeks acknowledgment from the Commission that most irregular arrivals are from countries at peace, and asks what actions it plans to bolster external border controls on the Western Mediterranean route and fast-track returns of those not eligible for international protection. He also raised the issue of NGOs rescuing migrants at sea, suggesting that if the migrants originate from designated 'safe countries of origin', they should be returned to those countries rather than brought to EU territory.
Garraud's question reflects a policy orientation favouring stricter border enforcement and a clearer separation between asylum and economic migration. It contains concrete asks: the Commission is expected to respond within roughly six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it shares the MEP's view that current return procedures are insufficient. The question targets the Commission's stance on external border management and the role of NGOs in search-and-rescue operations, impacting EU border agencies, national authorities in southern member states, and NGOs active in the Mediterranean.