Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group and a negotiator of the EU's latest migration law, has declared that the bloc has entered an “era of deportations.” Speaking on Euronews’ Europe Today programme, Weimers described the legislation, agreed on Monday, as the strictest in EU history and a turning point in how the Union manages irregular migration.
“We’re moving from words to actual enforcement of our laws and our borders,” Weimers said, framing the new rules as a decisive shift away from what he called a culture of non-compliance. The law introduces measures such as home searches to locate irregular migrants, extended detention periods, entry bans to prevent absconding, and the controversial possibility of establishing deportation centres—termed “return hubs”—outside European territory.
Weimers emphasised the scale of the challenge: “Hundreds of thousands of people are going into the shadows every year in Europe and that needs to stop.” Currently, only a fraction of migrants without legal status actually leave the EU, a problem the new framework aims to address through stricter enforcement and external cooperation.
Return Hubs and Diplomatic Leverage
A central pillar of the deal is the creation of return hubs in non-EU countries willing to host them. The next step for member states is to identify such partners and persuade countries of origin to accept the return of their nationals—historically the main obstacle to effective deportations. Weimers expressed confidence in the EU’s bargaining power: “We are going to use trade, [humanitarian] aid, visa policy to get those countries to take back their citizens.”
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations, who warn that deporting migrants—including families with children—to countries with which they have no connection could violate international law. When pressed on this point, Weimers countered: “If we are talking about human rights, that includes the right of Europeans to live in safe societies governed by the rule of law.”
The debate over migration enforcement comes amid broader European discussions on border security and asylum reform. In a related development, Cyprus parliamentary elections saw the far-right ELAM party rise to third place, reflecting growing public concern over migration across the continent.
Weimers’ comments also highlight a tension within EU institutions: while the European Commission has pushed for a common asylum system, individual member states retain significant control over enforcement. The new law attempts to harmonise practices, but implementation will depend on national governments and their willingness to cooperate with third countries.
Critics argue that return hubs risk creating legal black holes and undermining the EU’s commitment to refugee protection. However, supporters see them as a pragmatic response to a system that has long struggled to balance humanitarian obligations with public demands for order. As Weimers put it, the era of deportations is not just about removing people—it is about restoring credibility to Europe’s borders.
