Brussels — June 2, 2026 — The European Parliament and Council have concluded negotiations on new EU return rules, sparking alarm among humanitarian organizations. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has warned that the framework’s punitive approach risks undermining fundamental rights and fails to ensure safe and dignified returns for rejected asylum seekers.
The new rules aim to increase return rates across the EU by using force, sanctions, and detention. While efficiency is the stated goal, DRC argues that such measures erode safeguards central to a fair asylum system. The principle of non‑refoulement — preventing individuals from being returned to countries where they face harm — is at risk if procedural protections are weakened.
Concerns highlighted by DRC include limited opportunities for voluntary return, short timeframes that force removals without adequate preparation, and expanded use of detention. “It is not a crime to ask for international protection,” the organization stressed, warning that detention has severe impacts on individuals and can never be in the best interests of children.
The agreement also introduces provisions for establishing return hubs in third countries, raising fears of human rights violations in zones where access to services and protections may be restricted.
DRC emphasized that return procedures must uphold dignity, provide sufficient time for individuals to make informed decisions, and ensure access to independent legal assistance. Punitive measures, the organization noted, are ineffective as motivational tools and undermine human dignity.
As the EU moves toward formal adoption of the new rules, humanitarian actors are urging Member States to reconsider the approach. For return systems to be effective, they argue, they must be fair, humane, and rights‑based, ensuring protection for those most vulnerable.
