The European Union on Wednesday, 17 June, took a major step towards addressing the issue of mass and illegal migration by approving the new Return Regulation, hailed by supporters as the toughest deportation framework in the bloc’s history to date.
With 418 votes in favour, 218 against, and 30 abstentions, the right-wing majority in the European Parliament succeeded in pushing through the legislation, which forms part of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and strengthens member states’ powers to deport illegal migrants and rejected asylum seekers.




