Overview
- The Council adopted its stance to modify Regulation 2024/1348 and endorsed an EU list of seven safe countries—Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia—despite opposition from Spain, Greece, France and Portugal.
- Asylum claims may be deemed inadmissible if protection was available in a third safe country, the personal-link requirement is no longer obligatory, and appeals no longer grant an automatic right to remain.
- Member states are enabled to set up return hubs in third countries, with Italy indicating its Albania facilities could operate as return centers under the new framework.
- The returns package allows longer detention and extended or indefinite entry bans, imposes stricter cooperation and biometric obligations, introduces a European Return Order to be logged in the Schengen Information System, and starts with optional mutual recognition of return decisions subject to review.
- Negotiations now shift to the European Parliament, and a new solidarity platform is scheduled for June 2026 with up to 21,000 relocations or €420 million in support linked to compliance with obligations.