EU Parliament backs offshore detention as migration rules harden across bloc

The European Parliament approved on Wednesday an overhaul of migration policy that allows EU member states to set up detention centres outside the bloc and aims to ramp up deportations, according to Reuters. The text, which requires final formal approval from the 27 EU member governments, marks a sharp hardening of asylum procedures and represents a significant shift in European migration governance. Critics describe the system as cruel and say it weakens safeguards for asylum seekers, though supporters argue it is necessary to manage arrivals and deter irregular migration.

The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep regret over the new rules on Saturday, according to The Local Italy, citing concerns about the broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the European Union. The move reflects mounting political pressure across Europe to demonstrate tough border control, a priority that has gained momentum amid rising public concern over migration flows and the strain on Mediterranean states.

Greece has emerged as the leading voice for border hardening in Europe. On Monday, Greece's migration minister called criticism from human rights groups a "badge of honor" and vowed to further tighten what he described as "the toughest—if not the toughest—in Europe" migration policies, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Greek government's embrace of international condemnation signals a political calculation that domestic support for strict migration measures outweighs diplomatic pressure from human rights bodies.