The European Parliament approved a new EU return regulation on 17 June 2026 by 418 votes to 218, with 30 abstentions. The legislation concerns non-EU citizens who are staying in the EU without a legal right to remain.
The Parliament vote was a major legislative step, but the measure still required formal adoption by the Council before entering into force.
What the rules require
A person who receives a return decision must cooperate with the authorities and leave immediately or within a set period. Member states are expected to recognise and act on return decisions issued by another member state under the common system.
Authorities may use alternatives to detention, including reporting requirements or electronic monitoring. The regulation also provides for investigative measures under safeguards.
Detention and security cases
The rules allow detention for up to 24 months in specified circumstances, including a risk of absconding, failure to cooperate or security concerns. Stricter provisions apply to people considered a security risk.
Detention is not presented as the only available measure. The legal conditions, individual assessment and applicable safeguards remain important to how national authorities use these powers.
Return hubs outside the EU
The text permits agreements with third countries for return hubs. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from transfer to those hubs.
The agreements must respect human rights and the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending a person to a place where they face a serious risk of persecution or other grave harm. The text also prohibits collective expulsions.
What happens next
Formal adoption and publication determine when the regulation becomes legally applicable. National authorities then need procedures, staff and oversight to implement it.
For an individual facing a return decision, the relevant document, national appeal rules and available legal assistance matter more than a general summary. Vida Digital's report is general information and not legal advice.
Primary record