Overview
- EU interior ministers adopted a negotiating position that enables ‘return hubs’ outside the bloc to handle rejected asylum seekers and facilitate removals.
- Ministers backed a revised safe third-country regime and the first EU list of safe countries of origin — including Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia — allowing faster inadmissibility decisions and offshore processing.
- The Council position tightens the EU returns rulebook by expanding detention and sanctions for non‑cooperation, with possible prison time and new obligations for people under return orders.
- A 2026 solidarity pool totals roughly €420–430 million and targets about 21,000 relocations or alternative measures to support states under pressure such as Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain.
- The package now moves into negotiations with the European Parliament as Amnesty International and other groups condemn rights risks and several governments flag legal or practical doubts.