News item | 01-06-2026 | 21:21
A political agreement has been reached between the EU Member States and the European Parliament on the European Commission’s proposal for the Return Regulation. The Return Regulation will provide more options for the return of people who are not allowed to stay in the Netherlands. For example, foreigners whose asylum application has been rejected.
Minister Van den Brink: “Good news from Brussels. An agreement has just been reached on the Return Regulation. People who are not allowed to stay in the Netherlands must leave. With this important step we ensure that return becomes faster, more efficient and more effective. This also provides a solid legal basis for working on return hubs.”
The new Return Regulation includes the following measures:
- The return options are being significantly expanded. For example, (forced) return will soon also be possible to a third country with which agreements have been made about a return hub or a transit hub.
- There will be clear obligations for aliens without lawful residence to cooperate in their return. For example, foreigners are required to cooperate in determining their nationality or obtaining emergency travel documents from the embassy.
- There will be more options for immigration detention. For example, for persons who pose a risk to public order or national security. For example, the maximum storage period is generally extended and no maximum storage period applies specifically to this group.
- The EU member states will recognize and implement each other’s return decisions. When a foreigner who needs to return is wandering around the EU, the EU Member State where the foreigner is found does not have to make a new return decision if another EU Member State has already done so.
In order to be able to immediately make use of the new options, such as the return hub, parts of the Return Regulation will come into effect in the autumn. Dutch law must be amended for other parts. They will therefore come into effect a year later. In the coming period, the government will work with the chain partners to ensure careful implementation of the Return Regulation.