No formal decision on illegal migration from the Home Affairs Council

The interior ministers of the EU’s 27 member States met on 10 October in Luxembourg for exploratory discussions on revising the EU return directive, but no formal proposals were presented.

The most contentious topic was the repatriation of irregular migrants, with a focus on making the process quicker and more efficient. A key proposal, backed by around 15 member States, was the creation of “external hotspots” — detention centers in non-EU countries where asylum claims could be processed. This model, already being tested by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Albania, would be expanded across the EU.

Hungary’s Interior Minister, Sándor Pintér, stressed during a press conference that “bad guys” must be repatriated, while distancing himself from earlier comments made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had supported the hotspot idea. While no specific amendments to the 2008 EU legislation were proposed, the concept was discussed as a potential future option, depending on the success of Italy’s current initiatives in the Adriatic region.

Besides the 15 states that have already asked the European Commission for new measures to improve returns, other countries are progressively taking a harder line. The French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, opened up to the possibility of ‘innovative solutions’, such as external return hubs, complaining that the current legislation makes returns ‘virtually impossible’.

Another focal point of the discussion was the need to strengthen diplomatic agreements with third countries, both to facilitate the return of migrants considered irregular and to convince transit countries to detain those trying to reach Europe. In this context, reference was made to existing agreements with countries such as Turkey and various North African states. Retailleau even suggested making the issuing of visas to third-country nationals conditional on their willingness to take back their own nationals residing illegally in Europe.

One of the few dissenting voices is that of Spain, with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defending a more open and welcoming migration policy. The Spanish government reiterated the need to respect fundamental rights during returns, in line with the provisions of the New Pact on Migration, which should be fully implemented by 2026.

Regarding the Schengen area, it was emphasised that it is subject to strong migratory pressure. Hungarian Minister Sándor Pintér recalled the importance of protecting the EU’s external borders in order to maintain internal freedom of movement. Bulgaria and Romania informed their colleagues about the progress made in the management of air and sea borders, but their full Schengen membership will have to await a decision, which the Hungarian Presidency hopes to obtain.

However, the health of the Schengen area is precarious: several states, including Germany and Denmark, have reintroduced border controls, bringing to eight the number of countries that have currently activated temporary internal control measures.