European Union Strikes Deal To Create Return Hubs Abroad, Speeding Deportations

The European Union moved forward with a migration policy overhaul that aims to ramp up deportations and allow “return hubs” outside the bloc for people who have no legal right to stay in the EU.

“EU strikes migration deal for more deportations and detention centers abroad The European Union has agreed on a major overhaul of its migration policy, aiming to increase deportations and establish detention centers abroad BRUSSELS -- The European Union has moved forward with a vast overhaul of its migration policy, aiming to ramp up deportations and ink controversial deals to build detention centers abroad, in what rights groups compare to the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies”

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Cyprus Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides said, “The new regulation will speed up the return process and increase returns of persons who have no legal right to stay in the EU,” as EU institutions struck the deal during a “trilogue” Monday evening.

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Dutch lawmaker Malik Azmani, who shepherded the regulation through the European Parliament, said, “Europe cannot afford another period of standstill,” while adding that only 28% of rejected asylum seekers return to their country of origin.

The provisional agreement is set to head to EU lawmakers and governments for approval, with EU member nations able to set up bilateral deals with countries outside the bloc to build detention centers abroad.

The deal is framed as the EU’s hardest line on migration so far, with opponents warning it will endanger migrants and undermine human rights from Spain to Romania.

Euronews described the new Return Regulation as enabling EU countries to establish return centres outside the bloc, while critics warn it could lead to human rights violations and raise questions about compatibility with EU law.

An EU diplomat told Euronews, “The goal is to send people to their country of origin. If this is not possible, we would wait until it is possible,” as the law leaves flexibility for member states to negotiate terms with non-EU partners.

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Euronews also reported that Eleonora Celoria from Asgi said, “The European Court of Human Rights prohibits States from transferring individuals to States or situations where they may be subjected to violations of fundamental rights.”

Rights groups and civil society argue the hubs could function as a de facto detention, because migrants “will not be allowed to leave the centres,” and because there is no specified time limit for a migrant’s stay.

The dispute centers on whether non-EU host countries can be held to standards, with Euronews noting that only non-EU countries “where international human rights standards and principles in accordance with international law are respected" are eligible to host return hubs.

The deal’s implementation is tied to formal approvals, with the legislation still requiring approval by EU governments and the European Parliament before it can be adopted.

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DW reported that the agreement allows rejected asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their countries of origin to be transferred to “return hubs,” with locations “yet to be disclosed,” and it would require rejected asylum seekers to cooperate more closely with authorities or risk detention pending deportation.

DW also said the plan would allow authorities to detain migrants they consider a flight risk or a threat to national security, with a detention period of up to 24 months, subject to a six-month extension.

In the same coverage, Magnus Brunner celebrated the deal on Monday, saying it signals that “we are bringing our European house in order,” while the far-right ECR group hailed it as “The era of returns has begun.”

As the EU prepares for the next migration and asylum phase, the Council’s press release said the regulation will start being implemented immediately after the date of entry into force, with a number of provisions becoming applicable 12 months later.