The Council of the European Union gave its final green light on Thursday, October 1, to new EU rules intended to make returns more effective for people with no legal right to stay in the bloc. The regulation will be published in the EU Official Journal and enter into force the following day. Provisions on return hubs will apply immediately; other provisions requiring preparatory work will apply one year after entry into force.

The adopted rules form part of the EU Return Regulation, the bloc's flagship initiative to escalate deportations across the Union and establish a common system for returning people without a legal right to remain.

On the same day, the European Commission outlined a separate five-point plan, published Tuesday, September 29, responding to this summer's mass arrivals in Ceuta, where an estimated 70,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave. Recorded irregular crossings across the EU are at their lowest level since 2021, but Commission policymakers argue that sudden emergencies require stronger European coordination.

"Good policy never stands still. Building on our five-year migration strategy, we are taking the next steps. We will reinforce our foundation of strong external borders, effective migration diplomacy, the Pact on Migration and Asylum, and credible returns by strengthening Frontex, proposing a new European emergency response framework, and deepening our partnerships with countries of origin and transit. Europe needs a system that is firm, fair and adaptable," Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said in a statement.

The five pillars cover partnerships, border operations, digital monitoring, anti-smuggling measures and returns.

1. Partnerships with origin and transit countries

Closer cooperation with non-EU countries would include early-warning mechanisms, intelligence exchange and crisis-management protocols. A proposed Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs initiative would create opportunities in countries of origin, while Gateway Offices would promote legal and safe mobility to Europe.

Presenting the initiative in her State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it aims to offer young people meaningful prospects "so they are not compelled to gamble with their lives."

Law enforcement agencies including Frontex, Europol and Eurojust would deepen cooperation with partner countries on migration routes and threats. Surveillance coordination centers would improve information exchange and risk assessments before people reach EU borders.

2. Expanded Frontex and emergency border operations

A strengthened Frontex mandate would include deploying personnel and equipment immediately, alongside greater involvement in returns and monitoring. The Commission also plans a European Emergency Response Framework for situations where large-scale movements of people are suspected to be deliberately engineered or used as political pressure.

Member states would receive targeted support for sensitive border sections and could request assistance through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, established in 2001. The mechanism covers the 27 EU countries plus 10 participating states: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

3. Social media monitoring and early warnings

The third pillar would give Frontex powers to monitor social media for information relevant to border management. National authorities would report significant developments promptly through the European Border Surveillance System, the cooperation framework between member states and Frontex.

The Commission also proposes faster responses to misinformation and changing migration patterns. Protocols under the Digital Services Act would support cooperation with online platforms, search engines and regulators, while digital partnerships with third countries would target content encouraging irregular migration.

4. Targeting smuggling networks and financial flows

The Commission urges governments to adopt sanctions allowing asset freezes and travel bans against migrant smugglers, and to accelerate negotiations on revised anti-smuggling legislation and Europol's mandate. Cooperation with online platforms, banks and payment providers would aim to detect smuggling activity and trace illicit money flows.

Europol's European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS), set up in March 2026 under the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, would also be strengthened.

5. Accelerated returns and readmission

The final pillar calls for stronger readmission cooperation with third countries, drawing on trade, development and visa policies. Frontex would take a greater operational role, member states would make wider use of return, readmission and reintegration assistance, and digitized procedures would aim to cut administrative delays.

"Around two in three people ordered to leave the EU do not actually leave. The revised return rules adopted today will assist member states in implementing swift returns effectively. This is crucial to deliver a common approach to migration management under the pact on migration and asylum," Jim O'Callaghan, Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, said on behalf of the EU.

Advocates warn of increased detention

Ahead of the vote, Chiara Catelli, advocacy officer at the Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), criticized the bloc's emphasis on detention and deportation.

"What happened in Ceuta showed how people can be turned into political leverage when Europe refuses to open safe and regular pathways," Catelli said in a statement shared with InfoMigrants.

She argued the regulation would expand detention, encourage action against undocumented people and permit transfers to unfamiliar countries. She warned that fear of detention or deportation would deter people from accessing public services or seeking protection.

"Ultimately, this regulation will create more, not less, irregularity," she said.

Readers should consult the official EU Council press release and the Commission's five-point plan document for the authoritative text of the changes.