With 401 votes in favour, 284 against, and 22 cast blank or invalid votes, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission on 18 July. She presented her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, referring inter alia to security, external borders, and migration management.

The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union in the first six months of 2024 fell to roughly 94.000, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex. The Western Balkans and the Central Mediterranean recorded the largest decreases in detections of irregular border crossings, while the West African and the Eastern Land Border have seen the largest increases.

On a proposal from Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, the Council of Ministers approved a preliminary draft law defining the powers that members of the European Border and Coast Guard would have on national territory during official missions.