The courts themselves should be able to decide whether a deportation is halted until a verdict is reached. NGOs criticized the new regulation: people could be deported to unsafe countries before their case is concluded.

A new return law – passed for the first time with a majority from the EPP and far-right groups in the LIBE. Image: eppo.europa.eu

STRASBOURG. A political earthquake in the European Parliament: the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) on Monday adopted a significantly toughened version of the new EU returns law – and did so with a majority that is raising eyebrows across Brussels. For the first time, the European People’s Party (EPP), the right-wing ECR and the populist Patriots for Europe and ESN groups voted together for the text. The traditional centrist coalition of EPP, Socialists, Liberals and Greens has collapsed.

Automatic legal protection to be curtailed

The centrepiece of the adopted text is a change to the suspensive effect of appeals against deportation orders. Until now, every deportation was automatically suspended for as long as court proceedings were ongoing. In future, courts will decide on a case-by-case basis whether a deportation should be halted pending a final ruling. Human rights organisations sharply criticised the new rule, warning that people could be deported to unsafe countries before their cases have been fully reviewed.

What the text does not include

Equally notable is what the committee rejected: a provision demanded by EU member states that would have allowed searches of homes and other locations where people subject to deportation orders are staying did not make it into the text. Critics had compared this proposal to the controversial ICE raids in the United States. Whether this demand will resurface during further negotiations remains to be seen.

Part of the broader EU Asylum Reform

This vote is part of a sweeping overhaul of the European migration system due to take effect in July 2026. EU interior ministers had already agreed in December 2025 on a package requiring rejected asylum seekers to actively cooperate with their return. Those who fail to produce identity documents on request face sanctions. Deportation orders issued in one EU country will also automatically apply across all other member states – a key measure against so-called asylum shopping.

The reform also provides for the possibility of placing rejected asylum seekers in return hubs in third countries, as well as push-backs at EU external borders for applications with no prospect of success. Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia are to be designated safe countries of origin across the EU, allowing accelerated procedures for applicants from these states.

Next steps: plenary vote and trilogue

Following yesterday’s committee vote, the full European Parliament must now vote in plenary. Trilogue negotiations between Parliament and the Council of the EU will then begin. Since the two sides are not far apart on the substance, observers expect a swift conclusion – possibly before the summer of 2026.

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By Okay Altinisik | 10-3-2026, 16:17:56