The interior ministers of the 27 European Union member states approved a new regulation on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Luxembourg, designed to boost deportations of irregular migrants from the bloc.

The regulation allows member states to establish so-called return hubs outside the EU. These centres would hold migrants who are legally required to leave the bloc but cannot be returned to their countries of origin. Denmark, Austria, Greece, Germany and the Netherlands have been exploring options to change migration policy and set up such migrant centres.

What the ministers said

"When it comes to return hubs," Danish Interior Minister Morten Bodskov told reporters, "it's progressing very well."

"We are moving in the right direction," he said without providing further details.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said there were "preliminary" talks on return hubs but declined to say which countries were involved. More work was needed, he said, to make sure any agreement would withstand possible lawsuits.

"These agreements are meant to be sustainable in the long term," Dobrindt noted, adding that he was nevertheless hopeful that a first deal could be sealed by the end of the year.

Dutch Migration Minister Bart van den Brink said a technical mission already visited a potential host country in early September.

Supporters of the policy say return hubs could facilitate repatriations and act as a deterrent for would-be irregular migrants. Critics question their legality and argue that they violate migrants' fundamental rights.

Suspending the asylum process in emergencies

Greece proposed at Thursday's meeting to temporarily suspend asylum applications in emergency situations. The right to seek asylum is guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Athens argued that current rules are inadequate to handle mass arrivals, such as those in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta this summer. The Spanish government estimates that over 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta in late July. While most have since returned, some 10,000 remain. Spain has said only minors and small groups of the people who entered Ceuta were brought to the mainland.

Greece's proposal appeared to draw support from some member states.

"We have to find a legal way not to bring them into the asylum procedure," said Dutch Migration Minister van den Brink. "In situations like Ceuta, it should be treated as a border management issue rather than an asylum issue."

Asked whether he saw a suspension of asylum as possible under the new emergency law, EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said: "Europe needs the means to protect its borders at all times," while stressing that "we will always comply with fundamental rights and values."

Broader plans to curtail irregular migration

The ministers' talks come as undocumented migration remains high on the EU's political agenda, with far-right parties increasingly gaining support across the bloc. The situation has pushed many governments towards tougher migration policies centred on border controls, deterrence and returns.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this month that the Commission will propose an emergency tool for countries to better deal with mass migration movements. Details are still being worked out.

There are also plans to strengthen the EU's border agency, Frontex, with many officials stressing the need for the organization to have a rapid intervention force that could intervene in border crises.

Anyone affected by these measures should monitor announcements from the European Commission and their national immigration authorities for implementing rules and timelines.