The EU reached a deal Monday to tighten migration rules by allowing the creation of "return hubs" outside the bloc, as member states seek to increase deportations.
European lawmakers and countries struck a provisional compromise on the reform, which was launched in response to political pressure to curb migration – paving the way for its final approval.
"Today's agreement shows that we are bringing our European house in order," said Magnus Brunner, the European Union's commissioner for migration.
"With the new rules, we have more control over who can come to the EU, who can stay and who needs to leave."
Criticized by rights groups, the new measures will notably allow nations to open centres outside the EU's borders to which migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected could be sent.
