EU agrees new migration rules to speed up deportations
Supporters call the agreement “historic” as Spain joins EU-wide push for tougher migration rules
The EU has agreed a significant overhaul of its migration system aimed at making it faster and easier to remove people who do not have the legal right to stay in Europe, with new rules covering detention, returns and the possibility of sending rejected migrants to centres outside the bloc.
The focus of the reform is on speeding up what the EU describes as “returns”, which is the process of sending people whose asylum claims or residence requests have been refused back to their country of origin.
Under the new system, people who are seen as a risk of absconding or who do not cooperate with authorities could be detained for up to two years while their removal is arranged.
A key and controversial part of the agreement is the creation of a legal framework that would allow EU member states to send rejected migrants to return centres in third countries outside the EU. This is a major change from previous rules, which did not clearly allow this approach, meaning the legal framework has now been rewritten to make it possible.
The agreement does include safeguards, with unaccompanied minors explicitly excluded from being transferred to these centres under any circumstances.
Although the EU has agreed the overall structure, implementation will be left to individual member states. Some parts of the legislation will only take effect 12 months after formal approval, although other measures, including elements linked to external return centres and increased support for the EU border agency Frontex, could be activated immediately once the rules are published.
Supporters of the deal say it is needed to create a more consistent and efficient system across Europe.
Javier Zarzalejos, a Spanish MEP from the Partido Popular who chairs the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee, backed the agreement and argued it would shift EU migration policy towards a more structured model linked to labour market needs.
“Orderly, regular immigration linked to the labour market, as opposed to irregular routes and mass regularisations promoted by the Sánchez government,” he proposed.
He also said after the agreement, “from today onward, the European Union has a more serious, orderly and credible migration policy.”
However, the reforms have been strongly criticised by social democratic MEPs, who warned the process had been rushed and raised concerns about the legality and fairness of offshore return centres.
In a statement shared on social media, they said that “the rushed process, based on a right-wing to far-right majority, allows for legally dubious return centres, ICE-style deportation raids, and reduced incentives for voluntary return.”
The European Commission originally put forward the proposal in March 2025 as part of wider efforts to harmonise migration rules across all EU countries and increase return rates. It has said that around 64% of returns supported by Frontex are voluntary, meaning the person leaves without being forcibly removed.
The Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU described the agreement as “historic”, saying it strengthens the credibility of the system while still maintaining respect for human rights principles.
Before it becomes law, the deal still needs formal approval from both the European Parliament and all 27 member states.
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