The European Union is expected to grant member states the ability to establish migrant return centres outside the EU, a controversial measure designed to address mounting pressures for more effective deportations. This move follows calls from various EU governments to facilitate the return of migrants who have been ordered to leave the bloc.
The European Commission is set to unveil a reform of the EU’s current return system, which many critics deem inadequate. Statistics show that less than 20% of irregular migrants ordered to leave Europe actually do so. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the goal is to create a “truly European system” for migrant returns, focusing on preventing absconding and facilitating the return of third-country nationals without legal residency.
This proposal comes in the wake of growing right-wing political influence in several EU countries, such as Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands, where leaders have called for faster and more efficient deportation processes. One of the most contentious aspects of the reform is the creation of “return hubs” outside EU borders where migrants who fail to gain asylum could be held before being deported.
Currently, EU rules prohibit the transfer of migrants to countries other than their country of origin or a transit country, unless the migrants agree. However, sources indicate that Magnus Brunner, the EU’s migration commissioner, will propose legal changes allowing EU countries to negotiate agreements with non-EU nations to set up such centres.
The reform may also include provisions for expanding the detention of irregular migrants, though this will require approval from both the European Parliament and EU member states before it becomes law.
The idea of return hubs has sparked concern among human rights organizations. Critics argue that the centres could lead to costly legal battles and inhumane conditions. Silvia Carta from the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) warned that this approach might result in more people being detained, families being separated, and migrants being sent to unfamiliar countries.
On the other hand, some argue that return hubs could provide a necessary solution to the EU’s ongoing migration challenges. Johan Forssell, Sweden’s migration minister, stressed that existing systems have not been effective and questioned what alternatives exist if return hubs are not implemented.
Despite these concerns, the EU remains under pressure to find viable solutions to manage irregular migration, with the number of border crossings detected in the EU falling by 38% to 239,000 in 2024, following a peak in 2023.
