European Union countries approved, this Monday, the 8th, a tightening of the bloc's migration policies. Among the measures is the creation of "return centers" outside the EU to house asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected.
The decision was taken by a qualified majority during a meeting of interior ministers in Brussels. France, Spain, Greece and Portugal They opposed the proposals, but were unable to stop the package from moving forward, which will now go to the European Parliament.
The new rules allow migrants to be sent to countries considered "safe" by the EU, even if those locations are not their countries of origin. Harsher penalties are also foreseen for those who refuse to leave European territory, such as longer periods of administrative detention.
According to the European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, the goal is to accelerate procedures and give the population a "sense of control" over migration policy. "We have to speed up the process to give people the feeling that we have control over what is happening," he stated.
Centers outside the EU and safe countries
The so-called "return centers" would be set up outside the EU's borders, in nations with which the bloc has cooperation agreements. The proposal follows a model already attempted by Italy, which partnered with Albania to house migrants considered illegitimate, especially from countries like Tunisia, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
These three countries are part of the new list of "safe third countries," which also includes Colombia, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and all candidate states for EU accession. The list allows for the rejection of asylum applications without merit review, provided the migrant has passed through one of these locations before arriving in Europe.
Critics point out that several of these governments have a history of human rights violations. Egypt and Tunisia are governed by authoritarian regimes, and Bangladesh is accused of persecuting religious and ethnic minorities.
Solidarity among Member States
In addition to tightening the rules, the EU Council also approved solidarity measures to support countries under greater migratory pressure. Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain were identified as the most affected, according to an assessment by the European Commission.
The proposal calls for the creation of a solidarity fund within the new [system/program]. Pact on Migration and AsylumThe target number for 2026 is 21 resettlements or €420 million in financial contributions. Countries will be able to choose between offering resettlement places, financial support, or other forms of cooperation.
The rotating EU presidency, currently held by Denmark, has been pushing for a stricter immigration agenda. According to a diplomat interviewed by AFP, there is "a widely shared political desire" to move quickly with the changes.
Activists and humanitarian organizations have expressed concern about the effects of the new policies. Silvia Carta, from the NGO PICUM, criticized the proposal and stated that the EU is putting more people "in danger and in legal limbo," instead of investing in security and inclusion.
The package still needs to be formally approved by the European Parliament. The expectation is that... New rules will begin to be applied in June 2026.
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