The European Parliament has traditionally acted as a brake on hardline instincts of EU governments on migration. However, a recent vote on new EU return policies has dramatically shifted the landscape.
On March 27, 2026, the Parliament adopted the controversial policies with 389 votes in favor, 206 against, and 32 abstentions. This decisive moment marks a significant departure from previous expectations surrounding migration management within the EU.
The new law allows for the detention of individuals without the right to stay in the EU for up to two years, an increase from the current maximum of 18 months. This change has raised alarms among human rights advocates.
Additionally, the proposals include the establishment of ‘return hubs’ outside the EU for deported individuals, a move spearheaded by Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, and Denmark. Critics argue this could lead to asylum seekers disappearing into “legal black holes” beyond EU borders.
Experts have voiced strong opposition to the new measures. Charlie Weimers stated, “The era of deportations has begun,” while Marta Welander warned that the policies would strip people of rights based solely on their migration status.
Human rights groups have condemned the vote as a historic setback for refugee rights. Mélissa Camara described it as “a vote of shame that gave the green light to the detention of children sometimes without real legal grounds.”
The proposals were heavily influenced by a coalition of mostly centre-right and far-right lawmakers, with 38 formulations proposed by the far-right ESN group.
As the EU moves forward, the next step will involve negotiations between lawmakers and member states on a final legislative text. The implications of these new policies will be closely monitored as they unfold.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the operational aspects of the return hubs and the enforcement of the new detention policies.
