EU lawmakers and member state governments agreed on June 1 to new rules allowing deportation of migrants ordered to leave the bloc to so-called "return hubs" in third countries outside the EU [1, 2, 3, 4]. European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said, "With the new rules, we have more control over who can come to the EU, who can stay, and who needs to leave" [1].

The legislation must still receive formal approval from EU governments and the European Parliament, possibly by next month, before taking effect [1, 2, 3, 4]. The new rules extend detention periods for rejected asylum seekers and introduce penalties for non-cooperation, including entry bans, fines, and possible criminal sanctions [1, 2, 5]. Authorities would gain powers to seize belongings, collect biometric data, conduct searches including home raids, and even detain minors [1, 2, 5].

Human rights groups and NGOs strongly criticized the plan. Silvia Carta, an advocacy officer at PICUM, said, "This Regulation is going to create a draconian detention and deportation machine" [2]. Critics warn the rules risk human rights abuses and harsh treatment of migrants [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].

EU countries now struggle to enforce deportation orders, with only about 20% of those ordered to leave actually departing [1, 2, 3, 4]. While possible host countries for return hubs have not been officially confirmed, Denmark, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Uganda have been mentioned as candidates or cooperating partners [6, 3, 4].

The deal forms part of a broader tightening of EU migration policy amid pressure from right-wing parties, despite irregular arrivals falling by 26% last year to the lowest level since 2021 [1, 2, 3, 4].

Spain strongly opposes the legislation. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the return hubs "completely useless" and ineffective for addressing migration problems [7, 8]. On June 3, he publicly criticized the plan, saying such facilities do not solve migration challenges [7, 8].

EU officials maintain the return hubs will help streamline deportations and improve migration control, while Spain rejects this view [1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8].

The next step is formal approval of the legislation by EU governments and the European Parliament, expected possibly as soon as July [1, 2, 3, 4].