Opening mouth before putting brain in gear?

Difficult to see the sense in the government's pledge to cut net migration into this country to "tens of thousands" - a target which they have finally admitted they have no hope of reaching - when everybody knows that the concept of free movement of people within the EU means that they have no say over the number of EU citizens coming here - or for that matter, leaving here.  Why pledge to do something over which you have no control?  Crazy!