The European Parliament has given final approval to a new EU Returns Regulation for deportations, also tightening rules for third-country nationals who do not have legal permission to remain in member states.
The vote drew a strong response in the chamber, with lawmakers from the centre-right, conservative, and right-wing groups applauding the outcome after the measure cleared its final parliamentary hurdle. The regulation is expected to make a uniform EU-wide system for handling returns and speed up the process in the coming years.
The new framework strengthens procedures for deporting migrants and expands enforcement tools available to member states. It includes longer detention periods of up to 24 months, with provisions allowing extensions under specific conditions, and introduces wider cooperation requirements between EU countries. The regulation also establishes mutual recognition of return decisions across member states and opens the door to the use of “return hubs” in third countries.
ECR Shadow Rapporteur Charlie Weimers, a Member of the European Parliament, said following the vote: “Common sense has prevailed. We delivered.”
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group framed the vote as a correction of longstanding weaknesses in the EU’s migration system, saying that existing return orders were frequently issued but not carried out in practice.
Weimers also criticized opposition from other political groups during the legislative process.
“The far left never wanted a real return regulation. The far left wanted endless appeals and unused detention. The far left wanted to ban return hubs. The far left opposed unlimited entry bans for terrorists and criminals. In short, they fought to preserve a dysfunctional, paralysed system that returns almost no one.”
Under the approved regulation, member states will also be able to cooperate with third countries to establish return processing hubs outside the European Union. The framework expands the use of entry bans and broadens the categories of individuals who may be subject to longer-term restrictions and detention.
Weimers said the changes mark a significant tightening of EU migration enforcement policy. “It will now be possible to build big return hubs in third countries. We can enforce unlimited entry bans not just for serious criminals, but low-level criminals too, and detain criminals for as long as necessary.”
The regulation is part of a broader EU effort to standardize migration and asylum procedures across member states, aiming to ensure that return decisions are implemented more consistently and that enforcement mechanisms are applied uniformly across the bloc.
Weimers added: “Illegal migrants must understand: you will never make Europe your home.”
The vote drew a strong response in the chamber, with lawmakers from the centre-right, conservative, and right-wing groups applauding the outcome after the measure cleared its final parliamentary hurdle. The regulation is expected to make a uniform EU-wide system for handling returns and speed up the process in the coming years.
The new framework strengthens procedures for deporting migrants and expands enforcement tools available to member states. It includes longer detention periods of up to 24 months, with provisions allowing extensions under specific conditions, and introduces wider cooperation requirements between EU countries. The regulation also establishes mutual recognition of return decisions across member states and opens the door to the use of “return hubs” in third countries.
ECR Shadow Rapporteur Charlie Weimers, a Member of the European Parliament, said following the vote: “Common sense has prevailed. We delivered.”
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group framed the vote as a correction of longstanding weaknesses in the EU’s migration system, saying that existing return orders were frequently issued but not carried out in practice.
Weimers also criticized opposition from other political groups during the legislative process.
“The far left never wanted a real return regulation. The far left wanted endless appeals and unused detention. The far left wanted to ban return hubs. The far left opposed unlimited entry bans for terrorists and criminals. In short, they fought to preserve a dysfunctional, paralysed system that returns almost no one.”
Under the approved regulation, member states will also be able to cooperate with third countries to establish return processing hubs outside the European Union. The framework expands the use of entry bans and broadens the categories of individuals who may be subject to longer-term restrictions and detention.
Weimers said the changes mark a significant tightening of EU migration enforcement policy. “It will now be possible to build big return hubs in third countries. We can enforce unlimited entry bans not just for serious criminals, but low-level criminals too, and detain criminals for as long as necessary.”
The regulation is part of a broader EU effort to standardize migration and asylum procedures across member states, aiming to ensure that return decisions are implemented more consistently and that enforcement mechanisms are applied uniformly across the bloc.
Weimers added: “Illegal migrants must understand: you will never make Europe your home.”
