The European Parliament has backed a contentious measure enabling member states to detain rejected asylum seekers and establish ‘return hubs’ outside the bloc, sparking protests from human rights groups and political controversy.
The European Parliament has approved a package of measures that would let EU member states detain people without a right to stay and transfer rejected asylum seekers to centres in third countries, a move supporters say will speed up returns but critics warn will erode protections for refugees. According to AP, the plenary vote on 26 March was 389 in favour, 206 against with 32 abstentions, and the measure includes the creation of so-called ‘return hubs’ outside the bloc.
Under the agreed position, national authorities could place some people subject to return decisions into detention for up to 24 months while preparing their removal and negotiate bilateral arrangements to send people to countries with which they have no prior connection. Euronews has noted that the legal groundwork for transferring rejected applicants to distant countries was set by Commission proposals and committee-level approvals earlier in the legislative process.
The vote reflected an unusual realignment in the chamber, with centre-right MEPs from the European People’s Party joining right-wing and far-right groups to carry the text, while left-leaning and centrist forces opposed it. AP and Euronews reporting underlines that this coalition broke the traditional cross-group centre majority and was decisive in securing passage.
Several member states have already moved to operationalise the concept. Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Greece are reported to be in talks to establish extraterritorial return hubs, marking the first collective effort by a group of EU countries to build such facilities. Euronews says these early negotiations aim to identify third countries prepared to host rejected migrants, potentially in exchange for financial or diplomatic incentives.
Human rights organisations and numerous campaign groups have criticised the plan, warning it risks undermining asylum safeguards and exposing detainees to abuse and inadequate oversight in non-EU jurisdictions. The Guardian reported a coalition of more than 70 rights groups urging rejection of the proposal, arguing it could import ‘ICE-style’ enforcement tactics into European policy; AP likewise highlighted concerns about legal protections and monitoring in offshore centres.
The political controversy was heightened by revelations of contacts between mainstream centre-right MEPs and right-wing colleagues during negotiations. According to Euronews, exchanges in a WhatsApp group and a face-to-face meeting involving members of the European People’s Party and parties on the right helped shape the text. Speaking in the Parliament, Green MEP Erik Marquardt warned: ‘Man kann nur davor warnen, die EU-Rückführungspolitik von einer Partei abhängig zu machen, die aufgrund ihrer Remigrationsphantasien von vielen als rechtsextrem eingestuft wird’. The measure will now pass to interinstitutional talks and implementation by member states seeking partners for return hubs.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/eu-parlament-stimmt-fuer-abschiebezentren-in-laendern-ausserhalb-der-eu-accg-200673447.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://apnews.com/article/c66ca47aa73c0d0ad3477c8c23cebc50 – On March 26, 2026, the European Parliament voted 389-206 with 32 abstentions to approve a measure enabling EU countries to establish migrant detention centres outside the EU, known as ‘return hubs’. This decision allows EU nations to deport migrants to third countries, including those without prior connections to the individuals. The vote succeeded due to an alliance between right-wing and far-right parties, while left-leaning and centrist politicians opposed the measure. Countries like Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark have initiated negotiations with African governments for these hubs. Critics, including human rights organisations, argue that the decision undermines refugee protections and legal rights, raising concerns about detainee treatment and oversight in non-EU countries. (apnews.com)
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/03/10/eu-parliament-ready-to-approve-deportation-bill-as-epp-teams-up-with-far-right-for-stricter-rules – The European Parliament is set to approve a law enabling the establishment of deportation centres outside the EU, known as ‘return hubs’, to accelerate the return of irregular migrants. The proposal has been approved at the committee level, with the European People’s Party (EPP) aligning with right-wing and far-right groups, breaking the traditional centrist majority. Left-leaning groups have announced their opposition to the bill, which is now awaiting a vote by the entire Parliament. The law would allow EU countries to return irregular migrants to third countries unrelated to their origin, provided they have bilateral agreements in place. Critics express concerns about the rights of migrants, as the hubs could be established in countries where individuals have no connection, and the regulation removes exceptions that previously prevented deportations, such as medical reasons or family ties. (euronews.com)
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/03/06/five-eu-countries-team-up-to-build-return-hubs-outside-europe – Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Greece have collaborated to build deportation centres outside Europe, marking the first time a group of EU member states has established such facilities. These extraterritorial camps, also known as return hubs, are intended to host rejected asylum seekers as they await deportation to their countries of origin. The move signifies a growing momentum for a contentious project aimed at managing irregular migration more effectively. (euronews.com)
- https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/15/eu-parliament-firewall-breached-epp-reportedly-worked-closely-with-afd – Investigations suggest that the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament cooperated more closely with right-wing parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), on tougher EU migration laws. A WhatsApp group and a face-to-face meeting of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) played a key role in this collaboration. The cooperation aimed to advance a legislative proposal to tighten migration policy, including the establishment of ‘return hubs’ in non-EU countries. (euronews.com)
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/11/eu-lays-groundwork-for-building-deportation-centres-in-distant-countries – The European Commission presented a new regulation that, if approved, will enable member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers to distant countries where they have never set foot, signalling a transformative shift in migration policy. The law lays the necessary legal groundwork to allow governments to strike arrangements with nations outside the bloc that might be willing to host migrants in return for financial incentives. (euronews.com)
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/16/eu-deportations-plan-ice-style-enforcement-rights-groups-warn – More than 70 rights organisations have called on the EU to reject a proposal aimed at increasing the deportation of undocumented people, warning that it risks turning everyday spaces, public services, and community interactions into tools of ICE-style immigration enforcement. The proposal includes potentially sending people to offshore centres in non-EU countries. (theguardian.com)
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article reports on a vote by the European Parliament on March 26, 2026, regarding the establishment of ‘return hubs’ outside the EU. (apnews.com) This aligns with recent reports from March 27, 2026, confirming the approval of the measure. (elpais.com) However, earlier reports from March 6, 2026, indicate that five EU countries had already initiated discussions to build return hubs outside Europe. This suggests that while the vote is recent, the discussions and planning for such measures have been ongoing for several weeks.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes a quote from Green MEP Erik Marquardt: ‘Man kann nur davor warnen, die EU-Rückführungspolitik von einer Partei abhängig zu machen, die aufgrund ihrer Remigrationsphantasien von vielen als rechtsextrem eingestuft wird’. (consilium.europa.eu) This quote appears to be original and not found in earlier sources. However, the lack of direct English translation or verification from independent sources raises concerns about its authenticity and context.
Source reliability
Score: 8
Notes: The article is sourced from reputable outlets: AP News, Euronews, and The Guardian. (apnews.com) These organizations are known for their journalistic standards. However, the article’s reliance on multiple sources, including non-English language outlets, may introduce translation errors or misinterpretations, affecting the overall reliability.
Plausibility check
Score: 9
Notes: The article’s claims about the European Parliament’s vote and the establishment of return hubs are plausible and align with recent developments in EU migration policy. (apnews.com) The involvement of multiple EU countries in discussions about return hubs is also consistent with known EU migration strategies.