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A growing divide has emerged within the European Union over plans to establish so-called “return hubs” for migrants outside the bloc, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez openly questioning both their effectiveness and compatibility with European values.
The debate follows the recent approval of one of the EU’s toughest migration reforms in decades. The new legislation aims to accelerate the deportation of individuals with no legal right to remain in the Union and allows member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers to designated facilities in third countries while awaiting removal.
“Some governments (still) view the centres as an essential tool to restore credibility to migration policy and improve deportation rates”
Speaking after an EU summit in Brussels, Macron said France supports stronger return policies but remains unconvinced that offshore processing centres work in practice. He also questioned whether such measures reflect the principles upon which the European project was built. Sánchez echoed these concerns, arguing that return hubs risk wasting scarce public resources while failing to address the underlying causes of irregular migration.
Creator: European Parliament Copyright: CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2023 – Source: EP
The pair find themselves increasingly isolated. A group of 19 EU member states, led by Italy and Denmark, is urging Brussels to make full use of the new framework and support the rapid establishment of return hubs beyond EU borders. Some governments view the centres as an essential tool to restore credibility to migration policy and improve deportation rates.
Copyright by World Economic Forum / Manuel Lopez
Under the new rules, migrants who have exhausted their legal avenues to remain in Europe could be transferred to partner countries with which EU states conclude formal agreements. Supporters argue the approach will deter irregular migration and reduce pressure on national asylum systems. Critics, however, warn that the policy raises serious legal and human-rights concerns, particularly regarding oversight, detention conditions and compliance with international obligations.
The dispute highlights a broader shift in European politics. As migration remains a dominant electoral issue across much of the continent, pressure is mounting for tougher controls. Yet the disagreement between Paris, Madrid and several other capitals illustrates that Europe remains deeply divided over where to draw the line between border enforcement and the values it seeks to uphold.
