The EU is revamping its migration system, hoping to appease an ascendant far right by tightening border controls in the bloc and paying poorer nations to intercept immigrants before they ever reach its shores.

Its “Fortress Europe” tactic is drawing fire from left and right – sparking fears of migrant abuse as well as criticism of the European Union for failing to stem the rising number of illegal sea crossings.

Migration has been a hot topic since more than a million people – mostly Syrian – crossed the Mediterranean in 2015.

The EU has since tightened its laws and borders, emboldened by the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment across the bloc.

EU lawmakers approved a major policy overhaul on April 10, hoping to streamline security and asylum procedures and to send more migrants back. This year alone, more than 46,000 people have already made the hazardous boat journey to Europe.

The EU is also looking to build on a string of deals it has struck in North Africa, effectively farming out some migration controls to countries thousands of miles away.

Partnerships with third countries are “essential” to cut migration, Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said after the pact was agreed, even as some EU lawmakers and rights groups said the policy ran counter to EU values.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the “cash for...

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