He highlighted that only about 27 percent of failed asylum seekers actually leave the EU, as shown by recent Eurostat data. “We need to restore the public’s confidence that we have control over the situation,” he stated.
The agreement permits countries to send individuals who have been ordered to leave the EU to “return hubs” outside the union — a measure some EU nations are already pursuing, though civil society groups caution that this could lead to increased abuse and human rights issues.
The agreement introduces tougher measures for individuals deemed security threats, including possible home searches, extended detentions, entry bans, and consequences for non-cooperation.
“For a long time, Europe’s message was inadequate: even without the right to stay, there was little enforcement. That time is over. If you’re not entitled to remain in Europe, you must depart,” asserted French MEP François-Xavier Bellamy, representing the center-right European People’s Party.
The Parliament’s stance in negotiations was backed by the EPP, the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists, and the far-right Patriots and Europe of Sovereign Nations, despite objections from liberal and left-wing lawmakers.
Green negotiator Mélissa Camara criticized the deal as a “legal arsenal supporting a xenophobic ideology.” The French MEP denounced the provisions for establishing hubs outside the EU, detaining minors, and conducting “home visits inspired by ICE practices,” referring to the controversial U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
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