European countries on Monday approved the introduction of migrant return points into legislation as they seek to speed up deportations.
Under the proposal, EU member states would be able to return irregular migrants to third countries unrelated to their place of origin, as long as bilateral agreements are in place. A hub can be either a place of travel or a place where people are expected to stay.
Deporting illegal migrants who do not have the right to stay in the EU to a third country allows member states to speed up their deportations, but it can also put the lives of their citizens at risk as they are sent back to unconnected countries.
The provision is part of a new law called the “Return Regulation” and aims to enforce the legal validity of return orders in all member states, which the European Commission claims will allow expedited enforcement of deportations from the European Union.
The law, which must be agreed by the European Parliament before it takes effect, is part of an overall effort to make it harder for irregular migrants to enter Europe, while accelerating their departure as public opinion and a new political majority push for a harder line.
Return base as temporary or final destination for immigrants
The nature of each repatriation hub depends on the bilateral agreements that individual EU member states have with non-EU countries.
A hub can be a transit point for individuals before returning to their country of origin, or it can be a permanent location for people who do not have the right to stay in the EU.
Individuals may be returned to their country of origin or to a third country, provided they comply with international human rights standards and principles of international law.
“The connectivity criterion has been lifted. This will allow member states to set up repatriation hubs either as transit centers where illegal migrants are processed before being sent to their home countries, or as facilities where people can be held for long periods of time,” Denmark’s Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stocklund told reporters on Monday.
Civil society groups have criticized the introduction of return hubs as an inhumane practice that increases abuses against migrants and overall human rights violations.
in joint statement As the EU considers the draft law submitted today, published last July, more than 100 organizations including Amnesty International, ActionAid, Caritas Europe and Human Rights Watch have warned that the proposal risks alienating the EU from international law and could lead to illegal deportations and arbitrary detention.
More “effective” benefits as EU seeks faster expulsions
According to , only 20% of return orders are enforced. European Commission data.
The new law aims to increase the number of deportations by imposing harsher legal measures, revoking work permits and even criminal sanctions, including imprisonment, if returnees do not cooperate with authorities.
The same approach would apply to non-EU countries that refuse readmission to their nationals, potentially impacting bilateral relations. Tensions have escalated this year between France and Algeria, for example, over what Paris claims is an unusually low number of repatriated people.
Mutual recognition of return decisions between Member States is also included in today’s legislation. Under the current legal system, restitution decisions are only binding in the country that issued them. If approved, the new law will be effective throughout the EU.
