The European Parliament has approved sweeping reforms to the European Union’s return policy, clearing the way for faster deportation procedures for third-country nationals staying illegally in member states.
Lawmakers on Wednesday backed the measure by 418 votes to 218, with 30 abstentions, following a provisional agreement reached with the EU Council earlier this month.
The legislation is designed to streamline the bloc’s migration system by requiring individuals subject to a return decision to leave the country immediately or within a specified deadline.
Dutch lawmaker Malik Azmani, who served as rapporteur for the legislation, hailed the vote as a landmark moment.
“After almost 20 years of standstill, Europe finally has them. Return is the final piece in Europe's migration system,” he said.
The reforms maintain that all return procedures must comply with fundamental rights, international law and the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending individuals to places where they may face persecution.
Detention powers and ‘return hubs’
Under the new framework, migrants facing deportation will be required to cooperate with authorities, while member states will gain broader powers to enforce return orders.
Authorities may detain individuals deemed likely to abscond, refuse cooperation, or pose a security risk.
Detention can last up to 24 months, with an additional six-month extension possible in certain cases.
The legislation also allows alternatives to detention, including electronic monitoring, financial guarantees and residency requirements.
In a significant new measure, the rules permit the creation of “return hubs” in non-EU countries willing to host deported migrants, provided human rights standards and international legal obligations are respected. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from such arrangements.
National authorities will also be allowed to conduct investigative measures to facilitate returns, including searches of individuals, residences and personal belongings, subject to judicial or administrative authorisation.
Supporters say the reforms close long-standing gaps in the EU’s migration framework, while critics have raised concerns about detention periods and the outsourcing of returns to third countries.
