EU agrees deal for deporting migrants to third-country 'return hubs'

Migrants board a bus to the Playa de Las Americas police station and then to a temporary detention center following a rescue operation near Tenerife, Spain, on July 4, 2023. © Desiree Martin, AFP

The European Union on Monday agreed a deal to allow countries to send migrants ordered to leave the bloc to third-country "return hubs". The legislation, which still requires formal approval by EU governments and the European Parliament, has drawn criticism from human rights groups.

European Union lawmakers and governments agreed on Monday on new rules allowing countries to deport migrants ordered to leave the bloc to centres in third countries, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups that warn it could ​enable abuses.