This publication takes stock of recent EU developments in the area of asylum, borders and external cooperation on migration. It presents the major policy and legislative initiatives put forward by the EU in order to respond to on-going migratory challenges, focusing on three major aspects: reforming the common European asylum system (CEAS), strengthening the EU’s external borders and reinforcing the EU’s external cooperation on migration. The paper builds on previous research and analysis delivered by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS).