On 26 March 2026, the European Parliament took a significant step towards tightening the EU’s migration policy: with 389 votes in favour, 206 against and 32 abstentions, it adopted a package of proposals aimed at speeding up the return of illegally staying migrants and increasing the efficiency of the system.
One of the most important elements of the decision is that it may be possible to set up so-called “return centres” outside the European Union, where people awaiting removal would be accommodated, either not in their country of origin, but in third countries, if they are willing to cooperate. The new rules would also allow migrants to be detained more widely, which can be up to 24 months in some cases, while the possibility of automatic suspension of expulsion by legal appeals could also be limited to speed up procedures. Supporters say this is essential for the EU to manage irregular migration and restore the functioning of the system, especially in light of the current low return rate.
At the same time, the proposal has been the subject of serious debate, with critics saying that there is a risk that the EU will outsource some of its responsibility to third countries, while longer periods of detention and accelerated procedures raise legal and human rights concerns. At the same time, it is important to emphasize that this decision does not mean the immediate entry into force of the rules: the European Parliament has now set out its own negotiating position, and the final legislation will only be developed after consultations with EU member states. All this clearly indicates that the European Union is moving in a more decisive direction in managing migration than in previous years, but the form in which the ideas adopted now will finally be implemented remains an open question.
The European Parliament also adopted legislation to implement the EU part of the trade agreement with the United States, after months of uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s tariff threats and new import tariffs. The proposal passed with 417 votes in favour, 154 against and 71 abstentions, with several safeguards.
Translated and edited by L Earth