ON 1 JUNE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF JAVIER ZARZALEJOS, THE TRILOGUE ON THE RETURNS REGULATION CONCLUDED WITH A PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, AND THE COUNCIL

With this agreement, the architecture of the Migration and Asylum Pact is now complete, just in time for the full entry into force of the European Migration and Asylum Pact on 12 June 2026. The new Regulation repeals the 2008 Returns Directive and transforms what was previously a fragmented framework across national legislations into a single, directly applicable instrument.

The final text introduces the European Return Order, which will allow any Member State to recognise and enforce a return decision adopted by another Member State without having to restart national procedures. Decisions will be recorded in the Schengen Information System, making their traceability and enforcement possible throughout the Union from the moment they are issued.

The Regulation also expands the concept of a country of return to seven distinct categories. In addition to the country of origin, these include the country of habitual residence, the country of transit, any country where the person has the right to enter and reside, the safe third country responsible for the rejection of the asylum application, the country where the person has been granted international protection, and, finally, any third country with which a readmission agreement exists.

The text also provides a legal basis for so-called return hubs, namely arrangements with third countries for the transfer of irregular migrants when none of the aforementioned categories applies, while fully respecting the principles of non-refoulement and fundamental rights. In addition, it includes an external dimension and conditionality clause: countries that fail to cooperate on readmission may see their relations with the EU affected in areas such as visa policy, trade, and development cooperation.

The agreement must now be formally confirmed by both institutions.