Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday welcomed a deal between the institutions of the European Union on a new law that will allow member states to establish “return hubs” in third countries for irregular migrants.
EU returns regulation
In a post on social media, Christodoulides said the Cyprus presidency, together with the European Parliament and the European Commission, had delivered a deal for a new returns regulation that complements the pact for migration and allows for faster and more effective return of migrants with no right to stay in the EU.
He said the new law would provide for a “more autonomous union” and a “more secure union”.
Return hubs in third countries
The new legislation empowers EU member states to establish “return hubs” in third countries for irregular migrants.
According to the Council of the EU, such return hubs could serve either as the final destination or as transfer centres facilitating onward return to the country of origin or another third country.
The Council said agreements for the establishment of return hubs can only be arranged with “a third country that respects international human rights standards and principles of international law, including the principle of non-refoulement”.
It also said unaccompanied minors are excluded from such agreements or arrangements.
Comparison with UK plan
The establishment of return hubs is similar to the United Kingdom’s efforts between 2022 and 2024 to deport irregular migrants to Rwanda.
Although legislation was passed in the UK to allow such deportation flights and flights to Rwanda were arranged, the scheme faced legal challenges domestically and at the European Court of Human Rights over Rwanda’s human rights record.
In April 2024, the British government, then led by Rishi Sunak, sought to bypass those rulings by passing primary legislation declaring Rwanda safe despite court verdicts.
