EU’s migrant crisis crackdown to be decided today – ‘Missing piece’ | World | News
Migrants in the Mediterranean were rescued (Image: Getty)
Stricter rules designed to significantly increase the number of rejected asylum seekers and illegal immigrants removed from the bloc are due to be approved by the European Union today. Described by Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner as the “missing piece” of the EU’s migration policy overhaul, the proposed Return Directive aims to tackle chronically low return rates that have undermined public confidence in the system.
According to European Commission figures, currently only 20 percent of people ordered to leave the EU actually do; However, the latest Eurostat data shows that this rate is slightly higher, over 25 percent. The new rules will replace the 2008 Return Directive with a common European system with faster procedures, mutual recognition of return decisions and stronger enforcement tools. Mr Brunner said Policy: “There needs to be an effective return of people who do not have the right to stay in the European Union. The new rules will give us greater control over who can come to the EU, who can stay and who must leave. This is what EU citizens expect and we need to deliver.”
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EU commissioner Magnus Brunner (Image: Getty)
Key elements of today’s expected deal include stricter measures such as mandatory returns, longer entry bans and expanded detention powers for those who pose security risks. Detention periods can increase to 24 months or more in security cases with judicial approval. Non-cooperation by returnees will trigger penalties such as reduced allowances or confiscation of documents, while incentives for voluntary departure will also be strengthened.
Member States will have the power to search homes, enforce reporting requirements and use alternatives to detention to prevent escape. An important innovation is the legal basis for “return centres” in third countries; This allows unsuccessful migrants to be sent outside the EU under bilateral or EU-level agreements that respect human rights and the ban on refoulement. While Germany and the Netherlands aim to put such centers into operation by the end of 2026, Italy has already established facilities in Albania, despite ongoing legal obstacles.
The Commission’s proposal for a Common European Return System of March 2025 emphasizes mutual recognition of a new European Return Decision, systematic readmission requests to third countries and early security screening. It balances stricter obligations with protections for vulnerable people, including minors and families, and protects fundamental rights.
The move reflects a broader rightward shift in European politics, where tighter immigration control is becoming mainstream. Following the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum last year, increased deportations are a central part of efforts to secure the EU’s external borders.
Critics, especially NGOs and left-wing lawmakers, warn of the risks. Imogen Sudbery, director general of the International Rescue Committee, said repatriation centers could become “unlawful offshore detention centres” with the potential for human rights abuses due to inadequate supervision. French Greens MP Mélissa Camara has called on the Cyprus Council presidency to avoid any agreement involving far-right support in Parliament.
Negotiations were contentious, with the center-right EPP securing positions with right-wing groups. Swede Charlie Weimers, negotiator for the European Conservatives and Reformers group, said: “We are determined to deliver a robust, security-focused and operational Return Directive that addresses Europe’s low return rate.”
Highlights include relations with regimes such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, mutual recognition of extradition orders among member states, and the implementation timeline. Any agreement reached today still needs to be formally approved by the Council and the full Parliament.
Supporters argue that the reforms are necessary for the Pact’s credibility. Without effective returns, the EU’s asylum system risks losing public trust. The regulation will establish consistent rules across 27 countries and end the fragmentation that allows abuse.
If approved, the changes would mark a significant tightening of EU migration policy, aimed at ensuring that decisions to remove those who do not have the right to stay are actually implemented.
