EU adopts new 'Rimpatrio' rule to expand third‑country migrant detention centers

The European Parliament and Council have reached an agreement on the new “Rimpatrio” regulation, a core component of the EU migration and asylum pact. The text proposes extending the maximum detention period for migrants to two years, imposing harsher sanctions for refusal to leave, and lengthening entry bans to up to 10‑20 years. It also allows the creation of offshore “hotspot” centers in third‑country states where migrants subject to return orders could be transferred for detention and processing.

Several EU member states – including Germany, Austria, Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands – are already preparing to establish such centers. Greece has pledged to sign its first agreements by the end of 2026, modelling the initiative on Italy’s earlier, largely unsuccessful attempt in Albania. Potential host countries mentioned include Rwanda, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The EU has also met with Afghan Taliban officials to discuss the handling of Afghan migrants, prompting criticism from human‑rights groups and political leaders in France and Spain.

The proposal has drawn strong support from right‑wing parties across the bloc, while left‑wing groups and many NGOs warn that the measures undermine asylum rights and could create new zones of lawlessness.