Denmark, Italy, UK Push Stricter EU Asylum Returns
Three countries seek a joint declaration on returning rejected asylum seekers at a summit in Dublin.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Immigration
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Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom are pushing for a joint declaration calling for more rejected asylum seekers to be returned, aiming for adoption at the European Political Community summit in Dublin. The push comes as the EU has adopted new Return Regulation rules and concluded a return agreement with Nigeria.
Why it matters
A majority of rejected asylum seekers still remain in Europe, and the return rate rose from 19 percent in 2023 to 38 percent in the first half of 2026. The initiative signals continued momentum toward stricter migration enforcement across the bloc and beyond it.
Return rates for rejected asylum seekers in Europe doubled from 19 percent in 2023 to 38 percent in the first half of 2026, according to the figures cited. It remains unclear whether the joint declaration will be adopted at the Dublin summit, and the planned return hub is not yet operational.
The players
European Political Community
A pan-European forum of European heads of state and government that meets periodically to discuss cooperation on security, energy, migration and other shared concerns.
European Union
A political and economic union of 27 member states that sets common migration and asylum rules across the bloc.
The details
Denmark is part of a five-country EU group working to establish the first return hub outside the bloc under the Return Regulation adopted earlier in 2026, while Italy and the United Kingdom are not participating in that project. The EU has also concluded a return agreement with Nigeria requiring the country to accept its citizens who have no legal right to remain in Europe.
Timeline
2023: Return rate for rejected asylum seekers was 19 percent.
Earlier in 2026: The EU adopted new Return Regulation rules.
First half of 2026: Return rate reached 38 percent.
Thursday, November 13, 2026: Joint declaration targeted for adoption at the EPC summit in Dublin.
2027: First return hub targeted to become operational.
Political Context
The push builds directly on the EU Return Regulation adopted earlier in 2026, which allows countries to establish return hubs outside the bloc. Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom are now seeking to convert that legal framework into measurably higher return rates.
Stricter return enforcement could affect asylum seekers whose claims are rejected and who are subject to removal under the new EU rules. For readers, the shift signals that rejected asylum seekers are more likely to face removal from European countries than in prior years.
The takeaway
The gap between rejected asylum claims and actual departures remains the central policy challenge, and the rise in return rates shows governments are trying to close it. Tracking whether the Dublin declaration and the planned return hub translate into sustained increases will indicate whether the policy is working.
What happens next
The three countries aim to have the joint declaration adopted at the European Political Community summit in Dublin on Thursday, November 13, 2026, and the five-country group hopes to reach an agreement soon on the first return hub, which is targeted to be operational in 2027.
Further reading
For broader background on how European governments are handling rejected asylum claims, explore our Immigration coverage.
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Should European countries deport more rejected asylum seekers than they currently do?
