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New return hubs, longer detention periods and stricter deportation rules mark a major shift in European migration policy
The European Parliament has approved what many observers describe as the toughest migration legislation ever adopted by the European Union, signalling a profound change in the bloc’s approach to irregular migration and border management.
The new “Return Regulation,” approved by 418 votes in favour, 218 against and 30 abstentions, aims to accelerate the deportation of migrants who do not have a legal right to remain in the EU. The measure was supported by a broad coalition of centre-right, conservative and right-wing parties, highlighting a significant political realignment on migration issues within the European Parliament.
At the heart of the legislation is a controversial provision allowing EU member states to establish so-called “return hubs” outside the European Union through agreements with non-EU countries. These facilities would serve as locations where migrants awaiting deportation could be transferred while authorities complete the procedures necessary for their return to their countries of origin.
Supporters argue that the system will make deportations more effective and reduce the number of irregular migrants remaining within EU territory after receiving removal orders. Critics, however, warn that such centres could become long-term holding facilities with limited legal safeguards and uncertain prospects for eventual repatriation.
Under the new rules, unaccompanied minors would be exempt from transfer to return hubs, but families with children could still be sent to these facilities. Human rights organizations and several political groups have expressed concern that the measure could undermine protections traditionally guaranteed under European law.
The legislation introduces a number of additional measures designed to strengthen migration enforcement across the Union. Authorities would be granted broader powers to locate irregular migrants, including the possibility of searching residences and other relevant premises. Several non-governmental organizations have compared these powers to enforcement practices used by immigration authorities in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States.
The new framework also significantly extends detention periods. The current maximum detention period of six months for migrants awaiting deportation would increase to two years, with the possibility of a further six-month extension. For individuals considered a security risk, detention could potentially become indefinite.
Entry bans would also become substantially stricter. In most cases, migrants who are deported would face entry bans of up to ten years rather than the current five-year limit. In cases involving individuals deemed a threat to public security, authorities could impose lifetime bans from entering the European Union.
Another major change concerns appeals against deportation orders. Under the current system, deportations are generally suspended automatically while legal proceedings are underway. The new legislation would remove this automatic protection, leaving courts to decide on a case-by-case basis whether a deportation order should be suspended pending appeal.
The debate surrounding the legislation was intense. Following the announcement of the result, supporters applauded the outcome, while some right-wing lawmakers chanted slogans calling for the return of irregular migrants. Opponents responded with accusations that the legislation compromises fundamental rights and risks normalizing practices that would have been politically unacceptable only a few years ago.
Ana Catarina Mendes, Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group, warned that the regulation could legitimize legally questionable practices and weaken long-standing protections for vulnerable individuals. Socialist, left-wing and Green lawmakers largely opposed the measure, arguing that migration management must remain consistent with the EU’s human rights obligations.
Politically, the vote confirms the emergence of a more conservative majority on migration issues within the European Parliament. The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) once again aligned itself with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), as well as with several right-wing groups, creating an alternative majority to the traditional centrist coalition that has dominated EU politics for years.
This development carries particular significance for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Although the legislation is the result of a broader European political process, many of its key principles—including tougher deportation policies, stronger border controls and external migration management—closely reflect positions that Meloni and her government have advocated since taking office.
For the Italian government, the vote can therefore be viewed as a political victory. Policies that were once criticized by many European institutions are increasingly becoming part of the mainstream European debate. The approval of the regulation suggests that concerns about irregular migration and border security are now influencing policymaking across the continent in ways that align more closely with Rome’s approach.
The legislation must still undergo negotiations with EU member states before becoming fully operational. However, the parliamentary vote already represents a historic turning point, demonstrating how migration has become one of the defining political issues shaping the future direction of the European Union.
Alessandro Fiorentino