HIBAPRESS – Agencies
The European Parliament approved on Thursday a tightening of the European Union's immigration policy, by adopting new measures, most notably the establishment of "return centers" outside the EU territory, dedicated to deporting illegal immigrants.
This approach, supported by the majority of member states and deputies from the right, far-right and center, aims to raise the rates of return of illegal immigrants to their countries of origin, in light of data indicating that only about 20 percent of deportation decisions within the Union are actually implemented.
In this context, the European Commission submitted a legislative proposal aimed at accelerating deportation operations, which was widely approved during a plenary session in Brussels, especially by political blocs belonging to the right and center.
The new text allows member states to establish reception centers outside the European Union, to which immigrants can be transferred, and even detained when necessary, especially those whose asylum applications have been rejected and a decision has been issued for them to leave European territory.
The legislation also stipulates the adoption of stricter rules and severe penalties for rejected asylum seekers who refuse to comply with departure decisions, including the seizure of identity documents, detention, and the imposition of a long-term ban on entering the European Union territory.
The text also includes a mechanism for mutual recognition of deportation decisions between member states, which allows, for example, the implementation of a decision issued in France within Spain, and vice versa.
In this regard, European MP François-Xavier Bellamy said that this text will enable "the consecration of a clear principle that if you enter Europe illegally, you should not expect to stay in it".
In contrast, Marta Welander from the "International Rescue Committee" considered that this vote represents a "historic setback in the rights of refugees", warning of an increase in cases of detention of people in a vulnerable situation, including children.
