In a significant victory for conservative forces in the European Parliament, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has adopted a mandate for a new Return Regulation, aimed at accelerating the deportation of migrants without legal right to remain in the European Union.
The reform, which includes provisions for establishing “return hubs” outside EU borders, was propelled through the committee yesterday by a coalition of centrist and right-wing lawmakers.
The result drew celebrations from groups such as the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Patriots for Europe, who all highlighted their role in the changes.
The vote marks a key step in tightening the EU’s migration framework, building on the broader Pact on Migration and Asylum set to take effect in June.
The proposed regulation would enable the creation of external centres where rejected asylum-seekers could be sent, impose harsher penalties for non-compliance – such as extended detention and entry bans – and streamline return procedures to address what proponents describe as inefficiencies in the current system.
Political pressure to curb migration has intensified in Europe, fuelled by rising support for hard-right and populist parties across the bloc, as the costs for the mass migration towards Europe have become a dominant feature in nearly all member states.
Centre-right French MEP François-Xavier Bellamy, the EPP Group’s negotiator on the file, hailed the outcome as “a historic vote”.
“With the adoption of the return regulation, which will transform European rules on expulsions, we are finally giving our States the means to master their migration policy,” he said.
Speaking at a press briefing alongside EPP Vice-Chair Tomas Tobé, responsible for legal and home affairs, Bellamy emphasised the need to overhaul existing legislation, stating: “It is the reason why we need to change the content of the current legislation.”
He said with the changes, there would be a return to rule of law, as only 20 per cent of decisions by courts and member states are followed today.
Tobé echoed this sentiment, underscoring the urgency of completing the reform early in the mandate to deliver “rules that work”.
The deal was clinched at the last minute, bypassing a left-leaning compromise and relying on support from the ECR and Patriots for Europe groups.
Charlie Weimers, an ECR MEP and Vice-Chair of the group, celebrated the vote on X, declaring: “Europe is waking up: Those who do not have a right to stay will be deported. Tonight’s vote in the European Parliament solidifies a historic deal among right wing groups.
“The era of deportations has begun!”
Fratelli d’Italia/ECR MEP Alessandro Ciriani stressed it was the result of “solid political work among the different forces of the European centre-right which, in this legislature, have shown they can build structured majorities – such as the so-called ‘Venezuela majority’ – defending an ambitious text and rejecting attempts by the left to weaken it and render it ineffective”.
The Patriots for Europe highlighted their own role in securing a stable right-wing majority in the EP and were “able to shift the EP’s left-wing agenda”.
They did add that, if it was up to them, they would have gone further and wanted to see stricter measures on key points.
Mary Khan, Alternative for Germany (AfD) spokesperson for internal affairs in the European Parliament and shadow rapporteur for the ESN group on this report, commented: “Today is a historic day for the AfD and a turning point in European migration policy. The previous policy of open borders has failed.
“This vote makes it clear that there is now a right-wing majority in favour of a genuine change in migration policy in Europe.
“This is a warning signal for the CDU, including in Baden-Württemberg: election promises can be kept by cooperating with the AfD,” Khan said.
She noted that “the firewall has also fallen in migration policy”.
This committee endorsement follows earlier parliamentary actions, including the February plenary approval of related measures on safe third countries and an EU list of safe countries of origin.
That vote, which passed with 396 in favour and 226 against, allowed for deportations to third countries without direct ties, provided agreements exist and standards are met.
The reforms have drawn sharp criticism from left-leaning groups and NGOs.
MEP Murielle Laurent of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) warned that outsourcing returns risks “trading in human beings”, with no clear legal obligations for host countries or accountability for those deported.
Green MEP Mélissa Camara said: “It will endanger people’s lives and violate their dignity,” adding that it breaches “basic principles of the rule of law”.
Amnesty International claimed the proposals introduced “grave risks of systematic human rights violations”.
Maria Nyman, Secretary General of Catholic NGO Caritas Europe, argued they would normalise detention and create “de facto deportation centres beyond effective human rights oversight”.
Renew rapporteur Malik Azmani had a more nuanced take, stating: “Today, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted its position. As Rapporteur, it has always been my goal to reach an efficient and workable Regulation in a timely manner.
“This outcome provides the basis for the next steps, and we will now move forward towards the trilogue negotiations.”
That was after Renew Europe faced internal and procedural setbacks as negotiations collapsed, giving way to a right-wing alternative majority.
The text now heads to a potential plenary vote as early as March 12, after which inter-institutional negotiations with the European Council will begin to finalise the regulation.
