Overview
- Interior ministers gave an initial green light to three Commission proposals that enable return centers outside the EU, longer detention for those refusing to leave, and transfers to countries deemed safe.
- Member states also agreed on a relocation mechanism with an option to pay €20,000 per person, with the specific national allocations decided but kept confidential.
- Denmark’s rotating presidency and Commissioner Magnus Brunner propelled the accelerated timetable, following preliminary approval from right-wing groups in the European Parliament last week.
- France questions the legality and effectiveness of parts of the package and Spain remains unconvinced by the hubs, while Belgium, Sweden, and Austria have said they will not accept relocated asylum-seekers.
- Migrant-rights groups such as PICUM warn of rights risks as irregular entries fall about 20% year over year, and the EU has moved to tie preferential market access to cooperation on readmissions.