European Union lawmakers and member states reached a provisional agreement on Monday to tighten migration rules and allow the establishment of so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc. The deal comes amid growing public pressure to curb illegal migration and a rise in far-right parties across Europe.
The agreement, proposed by the European Commission last year, was reportedly pushed forward with the support of right-wing parties in the European Parliament, an unusual move. It aims to address the low rate of deportations, with fewer than 30% of removal orders currently being enforced.
Ironically, the deal comes as irregular arrivals into the EU fell 26% in 2025 to their lowest level since 2021. EU officials, however, argue that the real problem is the difficulty governments face in enforcing deportation orders, particularly when home countries refuse to take back their nationals.
Under the provisional deal, rejected asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their home countries could be transferred to “return hubs” located outside the EU, though specific locations have not been disclosed. The legislation would require rejected applicants to cooperate with authorities or face detention pending deportation, with potential loss of welfare benefits and confiscation of travel documents.
The plan also allows authorities to detain migrants deemed a flight risk or a threat to national security for up to 24 months, subject to a six-month extension. Most measures will apply immediately once the law enters into force, while some provisions will take effect after 12 months to allow member states to implement regulatory changes.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner hailed the deal, stating, “We are bringing our European house in order. With the new rules, we have more control over who can come to the EU, who can stay and who needs to leave.” The far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group also celebrated, declaring, “The era of returns has begun.”
Germany and Austria, which have been exploring independent return hub models, pushed for the agreement alongside Greece, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Italy has already signed a deal with Albania to house asylum seekers, though it faces legal challenges. Spain and France have questioned the effectiveness of such models.
Human rights groups have warned that the measure broadens governments’ powers to detain and deport migrants, potentially leading to increased raids and practices similar to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Donald Trump. Marta Welander of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said the deal “looks set to normalise immigration raids, expand the use of detention in prison-like facilities outside EU territory and increase the risk of people being deported to countries where they could face persecution, torture or worse.”
Source: www.dw.com