The regulations establish common procedures for the return of people without legal right to remain and include return centers outside the European Union.
The European Parliament approved new rules to tighten
procedures for returning migrants who do not have legal authorization to remain
in EU territory, as well as people whose asylum applications have been
definitively rejected.
The measure was supported by 418 votes in favor and 218
against, amid the political debate on border control, security, and the
humanitarian obligations of European countries.
The new Return Regulation seeks to establish a common
procedure for EU member states, with the aim of expediting the expulsion of
people who do not have legal right to remain. Among its provisions are the
possibility of extending detention periods in certain cases, the creation of
return centers outside the European Union, and the imposition of greater
cooperation obligations for people subject to return proceedings.
The legislation represents a hardening of European migration
policy and opens a new chapter in the discussion on how the bloc addresses
irregular migration and applications for international protection.
One of the points generating the most attention is the
possibility of establishing facilities outside the European Union's borders to
manage the return of migrants. This alternative is part of a strategy that
seeks to expedite returns and reduce the obstacles that, according to its
proponents, hinder the implementation of expulsion orders.
The advancement of this legislation reflects the hardening
of the migration debate in Europe, where various governments and political
forces are calling for greater border controls, while human rights
organizations, continuing their long-standing stance, warn of the risks that
return policies will reduce the guarantees of those seeking protection.