EU plans to enforce deportations more strictly
With the new regulation, the EU aims to enforce deportations more strictly and quickly. The reason is that, according to the European Commission, only about 28 percent of those required to leave the EU actually did so last year.
For this reason, deportations within the EU are to be better coordinated in the future. This includes ensuring that rejected asylum claims are mutually recognized and enforced. In other words, if an asylum claim is rejected in one EU country, another member state could also carry out the deportation. The aim is to prevent asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected from moving on to other EU countries.
In addition, individuals required to leave the country will be subject to stricter obligations to cooperate. Anyone who refuses to cooperate with their own removal will face reductions in asylum benefits, the confiscation of travel documents, detention pending deportation, and other measures.
EU Approves Return Hubs: What Are Deportation Centers?
In addition to the stricter repatriation rules, the so-called “return hubs” were also approved yesterday. These are repatriation or deportation centers that are to be established in third countries outside the EU.
In the future, people who are required to leave the country will be housed there,
- whose asylum applications were denied
- who are awaiting deportation
- who have entered the EU via a third country classified as safe
- or who cannot be deported to their country of origin
This may be the case, for example, if a country of origin refuses to readmit its own nationals, does not issue replacement documents, or if other legal obstacles exist.
From these return hubs, further travel will then be organized—either back to the country of origin or to another country willing to accept them. How long people will be housed in such return hubs has not yet been definitively determined.
However, according to the regulation, unaccompanied minors are not to be housed in deportation centers. For families with children, however, housing should generally be available.
In which third countries are the return hubs to be established?
That remains to be seen. Specific locations for the return hubs have not yet been determined. A prerequisite would be an agreement between the EU (or individual member states such as Germany) and a third country. The third country must agree to allow such centers to be established on its territory. Conversely, this also means that no return hubs can be established without the consent of a third country.
Rwanda, Uganda, and Uzbekistan, among others, have long been mentioned as potential third countries. Countries in North Africa are also frequently discussed. The Netherlands is said to have already held talks with Uganda. Italy has been pursuing a similar model with Albania for some time. An agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda, however, recently fell through.
And what is the status of these plans in Germany? Germany intends to establish return hubs in collaboration with several EU member states (Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Greece). However, it is not yet clear which specific countries are being considered as potential locations.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated a few days ago that agreements with third countries are to be concluded by the end of 2026. Germany is in talks with “various countries,” Dobrindt told the Funke Media Group. However, he did not name any specific countries.
According to the Federal Minister of the Interior, the return hubs are intended to make it clear that entry into Germany does not automatically guarantee the right to remain if the country of origin does not cooperate in the repatriation process.
Longer detention pending deportation and stricter rules
In addition to the return hubs, the regulation provides for further tightening of measures. For example, the maximum duration of detention pending deportation is to be increased to up to 24 months across Europe. In special cases, an extension to 30 months will be permitted.
Detention pending deportation may be ordered, among other reasons, if authorities believe there is a risk of flight or a security risk. In addition, entry bans are to be imposed more consistently. European information systems are also to be used more extensively in repatriation cases so that deportations can be carried out more quickly and with better coordination.
Criticism from human rights organizations
The proposed changes have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and some members of the European Parliament. Critics fear that people could be sent to countries with which they have no personal connection. They also point out that many questions remain unanswered regarding the legal standards and conditions in the planned centers.
The idea of placing families with children in such facilities is also viewed critically. Several organizations warn that those affected may have only limited access to legal advice or legal protection there.
Supporters of the reform, however, argue that the new asylum rules are necessary to enforce deportations more consistently and to strengthen the credibility of the European asylum system.
When do the new rules take effect?
The agreement between the European Parliament and the member states has yet to be formally approved. However, it is widely expected to be approved.
Some of the new rules are not scheduled to take effect until about twelve months after they come into force, to give member states enough time to implement them. Overall, however, the new rules could be phased in over the next 18 months.
However, the planned return hubs could become a reality sooner if EU member states conclude the necessary agreements with third countries and the legal requirements are met.
