The European Parliament has enacted new measures tightening the union's immigration policies, which include enabling the establishment of return centers beyond EU borders. This step is a significant shift in the European approach to managing immigration, as it permits member states to send unauthorized residents in the EU back to designated 'safe' third countries. Italy has taken the lead among member states, planning to set up return centers in Albania by 2024, although these centers currently remain largely unutilized due to rulings by the Italian judiciary deeming them unconstitutional.

Additionally, the Parliament has approved a list of safe countries, which will aid EU nations in speeding up the processing of asylum applications and return decisions. This list includes countries such as Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia, creating a framework for more efficient migration management within the Union. The implementation of these policies is timed with discussions among interior ministers of EU countries, who reached agreements on related proposals in December.

However, these new stringent measures have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that they undermine the rights of migrants and the principle of protection for those fleeing danger. The growing resistance against such policies reflects a broader societal debate in Europe regarding immigration, safety, and the responsibilities of EU member states when addressing humanitarian concerns in the context of global migration challenges.