European interior ministers gathered in Germany to discuss ways to improve border security and emergency response strategies. The meeting brought together 17 ministers from the European Union and Britain. This comes as the EU, made up of 27 member states, continues to refine its migration and asylum policies following the implementation of a new migration and asylum pact in June. The pact aims to streamline how asylum seekers are processed and how migration is managed across the bloc. Recent data shows a significant drop in asylum applications across Europe, and fewer migrants have been attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. However, the journeys that do take place have become more dangerous compared to previous years. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized the need for a new European mechanism to handle migration crises, particularly in response to what he described as "waves of illegal border crossings." He pointed to increased migrant flows into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the northern coast of Morocco, as a specific concern. Dobrindt called for clearer rules to identify border emergencies, a system to respond to them, and a way to quickly return those who are not eligible to stay. Dobrindt also suggested that the European border security and coast guard agency, known as Frontex, should play a role in the return process. This would involve Frontex assisting in the repatriation of individuals who are not allowed to remain in the EU. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner echoed the importance of securing the bloc's borders, calling it a central goal of the ongoing reforms. He noted that illegal migration has decreased significantly, by 55% over the past two years and by one-third in the last year. Brunner stated that Europeans want to have control over who can stay in their countries and that those who are not eligible should be returned.