On 26 February, the European Parliament adopted its position on the proposed Return Regulation with 389 votes in favour, 206 against, and 32 abstentions. This outcome was only possible because the EPP chose to side with the ECR, Patriots, and ESN groups. This political convergence signals a dangerous shift: the normalisation of policies that undermine fundamental rights and European values.

The proposed Regulation advances a punitive, ICE-style approach to migration. It paves the way for detection operations within EU territory, expands the use of detention (including for children) and promotes forced returns and the externalisation of migration management to third countries with which individuals often have no meaningful connection. The underlying message is clear: Migrants are not welcome.

JEF Europe rejects this narrative.

Labelling people as “illegal” or “irregular” distorts reality. Many individuals fall into irregular status exactly because of restrictive EU policies, such as the Dublin system, limited legal pathways, and administrative barriers to work and residence. 

We are particularly alarmed by the introduction of so-called “return hubs” outside EU territory. These facilities risk becoming de facto detention centres, outsourcing responsibility while exposing individuals to legal uncertainty and human rights violations such as overcrowding and inhumane living conditions. Experiences from similar externalisation attempts, by countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, or Italy, demonstrate high financial costs and human rights violations.

The focus on detecting irregular stay may lead to increased racial profiling, immigration raids, and the stigmatisation of migrant and racialised communities. Such measures could not only undermine fundamental rights but also threaten the integrity of the Schengen area by introducing more internal controls and general suspicion towards migrant communities.

The proposal also weakens protections for individuals who cannot be returned, including stateless persons or those at risk of refoulement. By focusing narrowly on increasing return rates, this new European approach risks pushing more people into legal limbo, unable to return, but without access to basic rights such as healthcare, housing, or legal certainty. Such precarious status may lead to homelessness and increases in crime.

At the same time, the Regulation fails to address the root causes of migration or provide meaningful solidarity with Member States at the EU’s external borders. A race to the bottom in humanitarian standards is not a European solution, it reflects a dangerous and outdated notion of European superiority.

JEF Europe reaffirms that any EU migration policy must fully comply with international law, including the principle of non-refoulement and the obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. A truly European approach must be based on shared responsibility, solidarity, and respect for human dignity, in line with Articles 78, 79, and 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

We call for a common European migration and asylum policy that prioritises protection, and fair responsibility-sharing among Member States. Member states, and best the European Union directly, should provide safe and legal pathways to those willing to integrate and who share European values. Migration must not be framed as a threat, but recognised as a structural and potentially enriching component of European societies.

Examples within the Union demonstrate that an alternative is possible. Policies that promote regularisation, inclusion, and access to rights are not only more humane. They can even lead to more prosperity and productivity, especially in Europe, where the population is aging. 

JEF Europe stands firmly for a Union that lives up to its values and its motto ‘united in diversity’. We urge European leaders to fundamentally rethink their migration and asylum policies and narratives towards a system that is humane, rights-based, and truly European.

 

This statement is based on the resolution “For a common migration and asylum policy”. If you have any questions, please contact Moritz Hergl.