Europe tightens immigration controls.

On June 1st, the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament (EP) reached an agreement in principle on a controversial law aimed at accelerating the repatriation of migrants who do not have legal rights to remain on the continent. This represents the most drastic change in the bloc's immigration policy in decades.

Asylum seekers are taken to a temporary accommodation facility in the Netherlands. Photo: AFP

Key tool

Policymakers argue that the “Repatriation Regulation” (RR) is a key tool for expediting the repatriation of migrants who are ineligible to remain in Europe, and is a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy for controlling illegal immigration.

The agreement was finalized amidst a backdrop of a 40% decrease in the number of illegal immigrants entering the EU in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. However, EU officials argue that the problem lies not in the numbers but in the difficulty governments face in enforcing deportation orders under the current system. Currently, only 29% of migrants forced to leave the EU are actually deported. This means that for every four people in this category, three remain, often by moving to another member state, changing their address, or simply "disappearing without a trace." The new law is designed to close these loopholes.

The centerpiece of the new law is a provision allowing member states to establish “repatriation centres” outside EU territory. Accordingly, member states can enter into agreements with third countries to set up these centres as a transit point before deported individuals are repatriated, or as any other final destination.

A mandatory condition is that signatory countries must respect international human rights standards and the principle of not returning people to places where they might be in danger. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from this mechanism.

This is considered a significant change from current regulations. Under current regulations, most migrants can only be returned to their country of origin or sent to a country with which they have a proven connection.

The new regulations also introduce a common document that all member states must use when making deportation decisions, known as the European Repatriation Order (ERO). The ERO will provide a basis for mutual recognition of repatriation decisions among member states, although this mechanism is voluntary.

The new law, for the first time, imposes legal obligations on the deported individuals themselves and also allows EU members to conduct searches of the “residence or other related locations” of illegal migrants. The RR also includes provisions for extending detention periods, tightening entry bans, and granting authorities more power to track down undocumented migrants.

Encountered a reaction

This law needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the governments of the 27 EU member states. If the ratification process goes smoothly, the law could come into effect as early as next month.

While the EU and the right wing welcomed the agreement, civil society groups and left-wing MEPs criticized the law, arguing that it would endanger the lives of migrants and violate fundamental human rights.

Non-governmental organizations are concerned that regulations on home searches could be similar to the controversial raids conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to a network of international treaties and conventions, people fleeing war, famine, or other serious threats to their lives have the right to apply for asylum in the first safe country they arrive in and must be protected while their application is being processed.

Several EU countries have begun searching for potential partner nations to establish future repatriation centers. Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Greece have been working together since March 2025 to implement this controversial project. Meanwhile, Italy is operating a similar model in Albania.

HANH NGUYEN (According to DW, Euronews)

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/chau-au-siet-chat-nhap-cu-a206175.html