EU Council approves new common return rules

The Council of the European Union gave final approval on October 1 to a regulation governing the return of third-country nationals with no legal right to stay. According to the Council's announcement, the law creates more uniform procedures and a European Return Order.

People covered by a return decision must cooperate with authorities, while breaches may trigger sanctions available under national law. Member states may initially recognise one another's return decisions voluntarily; the system will be reviewed after three years. Stricter entry bans and longer detention may apply to security risks, subject to justification and proportionality.

The regulation also permits return hubs in non-EU countries, but only under agreements with partners respecting human rights and international law. Unaccompanied minors are excluded. For Hungary, the immediate issues are coordination of EU procedures, official data exchange and preparation by the authorities responsible for implementation.

The regulation will enter into force after publication in the EU Official Journal. Some provisions apply immediately, while others take effect after one year. Related coverage includes the Hungarian Constitutional Court's benefit ruling and the Ukrainian minority-education proposal.