EU ministers approve new rules for migrant returns and offshore hubs

On October 1, 2026, interior ministers from the 27 EU member states met in Luxembourg to approve a new regulation concerning the return of migrants who lack the right to stay in the European Union. This legislative framework allows for the establishment of return hubs outside the EU, where individuals from third countries whose asylum applications have been rejected and who have received a return order can be processed.

The new regulations supplement the broader Pact on Migration and Asylum, introducing standardized return procedures and clarifying the obligations of those mandated to leave. Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Jim O'Callaghan noted that currently, approximately two out of every three individuals ordered to leave the EU do not actually depart. The new rules aim to accelerate and improve the effectiveness of these return processes.

Under the agreement, member states are permitted to establish these return centers in third countries, provided they secure formal agreements or arrangements with the host nations. These agreements must ensure full compliance with international standards and human rights protocols.