No residence permit? You go home. Plans to tighten migration rules
The European Union has agreed to tighten migration rules. The new regulations are intended to pave the way for the creation of return centers outside the EU. People whose asylum applications have been rejected would be sent there.
The agreement affects not only the EU, but the entire Schengen area.
Fot. Adobe Stock, licencja standardowa (zdjęcie poglądowe)
According to AFP, the agreement was reached on June 1 by the European Parliament and EU member states. It concerns the so-called return regulation, which will set out the procedures for people whose asylum applications have been rejected.
Will the new rules cover Norway? It's about Schengen
The regulation still needs to be approved by the European Parliament. It is part of a broad EU asylum pact set to take effect on June 12. The rules will also be significant for Norway.
This is due to Norway's participation in the Schengen area. The new regulations are intended to allow the creation of return centers outside EU territory. People whose asylum applications have been rejected would be sent there. The rules will define procedures related to their return.
This is due to Norway's participation in the Schengen area. The new regulations are intended to allow the creation of return centers outside EU territory. People whose asylum applications have been rejected would be sent there. The rules will define procedures related to their return.
Norway is also implementing its own regulations, tightening, among other things, family reunification procedures.Photo: stock.adobe.com/standard license
Some countries don't want to wait. Europe changes the rules
Nicholas Ioannides from Cyprus called the agreement historic. He is the Deputy Minister for Migration. Cyprus currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU. Ioannides said the deal strengthens the credibility of EU migration policy.
Negotiations on the regulation stalled in May 2026. The dispute concerned the date the rules would take effect. The European Parliament wanted them to apply immediately. The EU Council, made up of representatives of the 27 member states, wanted two years to prepare. The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Germany are already cooperating on return centers.
Negotiations on the regulation stalled in May 2026. The dispute concerned the date the rules would take effect. The European Parliament wanted them to apply immediately. The EU Council, made up of representatives of the 27 member states, wanted two years to prepare. The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Germany are already cooperating on return centers.
Human rights organizations criticize the planned centers, calling them legal black holes. According to current data, about two out of ten people whose asylum applications have been rejected return to their countries of origin. This stage of the asylum procedure is to be covered by the new rules.
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