The European Union has approved new regulations for the return of third-country nationals, clearing the way for member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers to "return hubs" in countries outside the bloc. Greece, Germany, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands belong to a group of nations pursuing agreements to establish these facilities, which would house individuals who have exhausted legal options to remain in Europe but cannot be returned to their countries of origin.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the measures aim to prevent a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis. The new framework allows member states to form agreements with non-EU countries provided they respect international human rights and the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face torture or persecution.
Under the legislation, non-EU nationals subject to a return decision are required to cooperate with authorities and may be detained for up to 24 months to prevent them from absconding. The rules also permit investigative measures, such as searches of residences and electronic devices, subject to administrative or judicial authorization. While no specific destinations for these hubs have been confirmed, Rwanda and Kenya have been discussed as potential partners, and Greek officials stated they expect a pilot project to begin in the first half of next year.
The policy change affects third-country nationals seeking asylum or residing irregularly within the 27 EU member states. In 2025, humanitarian groups recorded more than 80,000 "pushbacks"—the forced removal of migrants across borders without access to asylum procedures—mostly in Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, and Latvia. The new regulations formalize the possibility of using "return hubs," which could see rejected applicants transferred to the African continent or elsewhere while they await final removal. For individuals, this means the risk of detention, with legal limits set at 24 months.
The scale of the financial and administrative impact is significant. An abandoned program in the United Kingdom cost the government £715 million (approximately $950 million) by June 2024 without successfully relocating any asylum seekers forcibly. In the U.S., which uses similar tactics, over 100 deportees were sent to eight African countries during a 10-day window in August. Critics, including 88 nonprofit groups, argue the policy weakens legal protections and expands surveillance, while supporters describe it as a step for regaining border control.
The new rules go into effect on June 12, 2026. While some provisions related to return hubs and the external dimension of returns apply immediately, other administrative requirements will enter into application 12 months after the legislation's entry into force. Denmark has stated it expects to be ready to transfer the first irregular migrants to a partner country by 2027. Legal experts suggest the policy will likely face litigation regarding individual rights and the safety of third-country destinations.