Indonesian Citizens Urged to Be Cautious as Europe Tightens Migration Rules

Indonesian citizens planning to holiday, work, or settle in Europe need to pay close attention to the latest policy changes in the European Union. The European Parliament has just approved stricter migration rules, including accelerated deportations and the possibility of establishing migrant detention centres outside European territory.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the new rules are necessary to improve the effectiveness of returning foreign nationals who do not have the right to remain in the EU. “The Return Regulation will provide the necessary tools to make returns more efficient, with faster and more effective procedures,” von der Leyen said in a letter to EU member states ahead of a leaders’ meeting in Brussels, as reported by Reuters on Thursday.

The new policy still requires formal approval from the 27 EU member states. However, the Parliament’s endorsement is a strong signal that the bloc is shifting towards a firmer approach to migration. This change comes after European countries have struggled for years to deport rejected asylum seekers and foreign nationals who remain after their visas expire. The new rules are therefore designed to speed up the deportation process and strengthen immigration law enforcement.

The move also reflects rising anti-immigration sentiment across several European countries over the past decade. The migration issue has even helped boost support for right-wing parties in various EU member states.

For Indonesian citizens, this means that compliance with visa regulations, residence permits, and immigration documents is becoming increasingly important. Violations of stay permits or overstaying could now face much stricter scrutiny than before.

However, the new EU policy has drawn criticism from human rights groups. They argue that an approach overly focused on deportation risks ignoring the root causes of migration, such as conflict, poverty, and political oppression. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned that the rules could expand the use of migrant detention and weaken protections against forced expulsion. “The new EU rules on migrant returns risk expanding the use of detention, building return centres abroad, and weakening safeguards against forced removal,” he said.

Amid this tightening, the European Commission has also invited Taliban representatives to Brussels to discuss the return of Afghan citizens who no longer have the right to stay in the EU. This move has sparked controversy, as Western nations have yet to officially recognise the Taliban government that regained power in Afghanistan in 2021.