EU Parliament Greenlights Offshore Migrant Detention Centres, Drawing Cheers and Condemnation

The new return regulation

The European Parliament gave final approval on Wednesday to a regulation that allows EU countries to set up "return hubs" outside the bloc to hold rejected asylum seekers pending deportation. The text, passed with 418 votes in favour, 218 against and 30 abstentions, replaces a nearly two-decade-old directive. It obliges non-EU nationals without legal stay to leave immediately or within a set period and cooperate with authorities. Those who fail to do so, or who pose a security or flight risk, can be detained for up to 24 months, extendable by another six months under certain conditions. A national authority must order the detention, and the regulation requires third-country agreements to respect human rights and the principle of non-refoulement.

The Return Regulation will provide the necessary tools to make returns more efficient, with faster and more effective procedures.

A divided hemicycle

The vote exposed deep rifts. Far-right and right-wing lawmakers burst into applause and chanted "send them back," while left-wing members shouted "shame on you." Social Democrats likened the scene to Trump-style immigration enforcement.

This regulation makes clear that it is us, not the smugglers, who decide who can stay in the EU and who must leave.

The centre-right hailed a pragmatic step for border control; critics called it a dark chapter.

Rights groups sound alarms

Human rights organisations and the UN warned that the rules risk expanding detention, normalising offshore processing, and weakening protections against refoulement.

The dehumanization of migrants and refugees, including in the UK, US, and many EU countries, is appalling, often leading also to the denial of their rights.

The regulation requires that any third-country deal respect human rights, international law and non-refoulement, but sceptics pointed to the stalemate over Italy's Albania-based centres, which remain blocked by courts. Caritas warned the measure could "stigmatise and criminalise migrants."

Member states race ahead

Even before final approval, six countries (Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece and Italy) have explored return hub agreements.

Our goal is to conclude the first agreements for the creation of these structures in 2026, so that they can be operational in 2027.

Spain remains the largest dissenter, formally objecting to the regulation and questioning its proportionality. The text still needs formal sign-off by national governments, a step seen as a formality. Once adopted, the framework for offshore centres becomes applicable immediately, with a 12-month adaptation period for other provisions.

Broader context

The regulation is the last piece of the EU's migration and asylum pact, shaped by the 2015–16 influx and rising anti-immigration sentiment that has boosted far-right parties across the continent. The vote came a day after EU ministers agreed to open the bloc's "Global Europe" external action fund to finance "innovative solutions" against irregular migration, effectively allowing EU money for the hubs. Separately, the Commission last month invited Taliban officials to Brussels to discuss returns of Afghan nationals, a move human rights groups said violated EU values. The meeting, set for June 22–23, focuses on readmission of Afghans without legal stay.

In favour

418

Against

218

Abstentions

30