EU unveils plan to intensify deportations

The European Commission has formally proposed to harmonize deportation rules across the EU. The current regulations, which vary by state, allow those who have been denied the right to remain in the bloc lawfully to exploit the system and only result in 20% of them departing.

President Ursula von der Leyen has labeled this figure “by far too low,” while Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, has asserted that the proposed rules “will ensure that those who have no right to stay in the EU are actually returned” to their countries of origin.

The 87-page document unveiled on Tuesday will require immigrants to cooperate with authorities, permit the extended detention of asylum seekers, and introduce the mutual recognition of deportation orders among member states. These reforms aim to encourage voluntary returns and seal loopholes currently exploited by individuals who evade forced repatriation by moving in between EU countries.

Additionally, the EC plans to establish “return hubs” – deportation centers in third countries willing to accept expelled individuals from the EU while ensuring that their basic rights, including the principle of non-refoulement, are upheld. If approved by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, the new system is set to take effect in mid-2027.

Illegal migration has remained a hot-button issue in the EU since the 2015 crisis, which saw over a million people arrive in member states. The authorities’ decision to welcome this influx sparked a backlash from several Eastern European nations, who viewed the newcomers as a security and cultural threat. Political guidelines issued by von der Leyen last July pledged to strengthen the EU’s borders and crack down on human smugglers, a significant driver of illegal immigration.