The comments came days after European Union member states approved new migration rules that permit the establishment of so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc, where rejected asylum seekers and migrants could be transferred after being denied permission to remain in EU territory.

Turk said the measures must be implemented in full compliance with international human rights and refugee law, stressing that EU governments cannot transfer their legal obligations to third countries.

“EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states in this context,” Turk said in a statement.

The new framework reflects a broader shift across Europe toward stricter migration controls, as governments face sustained political pressure from anti-immigration and far-right parties that have gained support in several countries in recent years.

European policymakers have increasingly focused on improving deportation and repatriation procedures after years of criticism that existing systems were ineffective. According to EU figures cited by officials, fewer than 30 percent of individuals ordered to leave the bloc are ultimately returned to their countries of origin.

Turk cautioned that returning migrants to countries where they could face persecution, abuse or other serious harm would violate the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee and human rights law.

“International human rights law and refugee law are very clear — no-one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,” he said.

The UN rights chief expressed particular concern about the detention and transfer of vulnerable groups, including children, describing such actions as highly sensitive exercises of state authority that carry significant risks of rights violations.

Under the new rules, migrants subject to deportation orders must cooperate with authorities and leave EU territory. Those deemed security threats, considered likely to abscond, or who refuse to comply may be detained for up to two years.

Turk called for robust oversight mechanisms to ensure respect for due process, family unity and the best interests of children. He said deportation decisions should be based on individual assessments and should not be executed before legal appeals have been completed.

He also urged European governments to avoid linking migration to security concerns in public debate and called for a more balanced approach that recognizes migrants’ contributions to European economies and societies.

The migration package marks one of the most significant changes to the EU’s return system in recent years and is expected to remain a subject of debate among human rights organizations, national governments and EU institutions as implementation begins.

The comments came days after European Union member states approved new migration rules that permit the establishment of so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc, where rejected asylum seekers and migrants could be transferred after being denied permission to remain in EU territory.

Turk said the measures must be implemented in full compliance with international human rights and refugee law, stressing that EU governments cannot transfer their legal obligations to third countries.

“EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states in this context,” Turk said in a statement.

The new framework reflects a broader shift across Europe toward stricter migration controls, as governments face sustained political pressure from anti-immigration and far-right parties that have gained support in several countries in recent years.

European policymakers have increasingly focused on improving deportation and repatriation procedures after years of criticism that existing systems were ineffective. According to EU figures cited by officials, fewer than 30 percent of individuals ordered to leave the bloc are ultimately returned to their countries of origin.

Turk cautioned that returning migrants to countries where they could face persecution, abuse or other serious harm would violate the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee and human rights law.

“International human rights law and refugee law are very clear — no-one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,” he said.

The UN rights chief expressed particular concern about the detention and transfer of vulnerable groups, including children, describing such actions as highly sensitive exercises of state authority that carry significant risks of rights violations.

Under the new rules, migrants subject to deportation orders must cooperate with authorities and leave EU territory. Those deemed security threats, considered likely to abscond, or who refuse to comply may be detained for up to two years.

Turk called for robust oversight mechanisms to ensure respect for due process, family unity and the best interests of children. He said deportation decisions should be based on individual assessments and should not be executed before legal appeals have been completed.

He also urged European governments to avoid linking migration to security concerns in public debate and called for a more balanced approach that recognizes migrants’ contributions to European economies and societies.

The migration package marks one of the most significant changes to the EU’s return system in recent years and is expected to remain a subject of debate among human rights organizations, national governments and EU institutions as implementation begins.

EU foreign ministers from the 27-member bloc will begin talks with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova on the first cluster of EU legislation, opening the next stage of their accession process.

Ukraine’s progress had been delayed for nearly two years after Hungary blocked further movement under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The path reopened after his rival Peter Magyar won elections in April.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said the move recognized the efforts and reforms undertaken by Ukraine and Moldova despite significant challenges.

The decision provides political support for Kyiv, which applied for EU membership after Russia’s invasion, but officials said major obstacles remain before accession can take place.

Ukraine must complete negotiations covering 35 chapters of EU law, including areas such as environment, agriculture, justice and security, organized into six major clusters.

A European diplomat said the process would be complicated by the ongoing war, institutional reforms and challenges including organized crime.

Hungary’s new leadership has suggested that even if negotiations are completed, membership could still take many years, while some EU officials have discussed alternative arrangements.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed the idea of Ukraine becoming an “associate member” without voting rights while it works toward full accession, a proposal that Kyiv has viewed with caution.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine’s goal remains full EU membership with complete rights.

The broader debate comes as Ukraine, Moldova and other candidate countries seek closer ties with the bloc, raising questions about how the EU would function with more members.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the EU should prepare itself to accept Ukraine by 2030 if Kyiv completes the required reforms and negotiations.

He stressed that the timeline would depend on Ukraine’s progress and the outcome of accession talks.

The NATO-led KFOR mission, which currently numbers about 4,600 personnel, has been deployed in Kosovo since the end of the 1998-1999 conflict between ethnic Albanian separatists and Serbian forces.US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the alliance saw an opportunity to “optimize KFOR’s size and posture further” as stability improved.

NATO said the planned reductions would be “calibrated” and implemented over time, with the possibility of reversal if the security situation deteriorates.The announcement comes as the United States signals a broader effort to reduce its military presence in Europe, according to European diplomats cited prior to the decision.

The US currently contributes just under 600 troops to the KFOR mission, based on April figures.In 2023, NATO deployed an additional 1,000 troops to Kosovo following a spike in tensions, though that reinforcement was later halted earlier this year after conditions stabilized.While the situation has improved overall, tensions remain in northern Kosovo, where the majority-Serb population resides.

The last major incident occurred in September 2023, when a Kosovo police officer was killed during a gunbattle with Serb separatists.NATO did not specify which national contingents would be affected by the reduction.

The dispute follows the EU’s decision on Monday to expand the mandate of Operation IRINI, a naval mission established to enforce the United Nations arms embargo on Libya. Under the revised mandate, EU military vessels operating in the Mediterranean will be able to stop and inspect foreign ships suspected of circumventing sanctions through the transport of Russian oil.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the move represented a threat to maritime security and accused the EU of attempting to intimidate civilian shipping under the guise of sanctions enforcement.

“The European Union’s deployment of ships from the IRINI naval operation in the Mediterranean to inspect or seize, as they now say, vessels carrying oil products would constitute a flagrant violation of international law,” Zakharova told a briefing in Moscow.

Zakharova rejected the EU’s characterization of a Russian-linked “shadow fleet,” describing the term as a political construct rather than a recognized legal category under international law. She argued that the planned inspections lacked a valid legal basis and risked undermining established principles governing international navigation.

She said Russia reserved the right to employ “the full arsenal of political, legal, and other instruments” to safeguard maritime security and protect the interests of shipowners and commercial operators involved in the transportation of oil products.

The EU has increasingly targeted vessels it believes are helping transport Russian oil outside Western sanctions frameworks imposed following Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. European officials have argued that tighter monitoring of tanker activity is necessary to strengthen sanctions enforcement and reduce opportunities for evasion.

The latest disagreement highlights growing tensions between Moscow and Brussels over the implementation of sanctions and the policing of maritime trade routes, particularly in areas where commercial shipping intersects with broader geopolitical disputes.

The warning came after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told Reuters that his government would proceed with plans for the development despite growing protests over its potential environmental impact on a sensitive stretch of coastline in southern Albania.

The project, linked to Kushner and Ivanka Trump through Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners, has become a focal point of public opposition. Demonstrators argue that the development threatens an ecologically important coastal area that serves as a migratory stopover for flamingos and other bird species.

Speaking on Tuesday, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said Albania must avoid actions that could jeopardize its progress toward meeting EU accession requirements.

“Albania should refrain from action that could undermine the fulfilment of the closing benchmark, and we expect the Albanian authorities to act without delay,” Mercier said, adding that the Commission remained in contact with Albanian authorities regarding the issue.

The dispute comes as the European Union advances discussions on enlargement, with Albania among the countries identified as potential candidates for membership by 2030, provided they align domestic legislation and regulatory frameworks with EU standards, including environmental protections.

Protests against the resort have intensified in recent weeks in Tirana and along Albania’s southern coastline. Activists have dubbed the movement the “Flamingo Revolution,” reflecting concerns that construction could affect wildlife habitats in the area.

The demonstrations have also evolved into a broader expression of discontent among some opposition groups regarding aspects of Rama’s 13-year tenure in office.

Rama dismissed suggestions that the project would undermine environmental safeguards, saying authorities remained committed to protecting biodiversity and natural habitats. He said an environmental impact assessment would be completed before the project moves forward.

“We are very proud of what we have done for the wildlife in Albania. The European Commission has no reason to doubt our firm will to protect whatever has to be protected when it comes to wildlife and nature,” Rama told Reuters.

Affinity Partners, which is expected to develop the resort, did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The controversy highlights the growing tension between economic development ambitions and environmental obligations facing countries seeking accession to the European Union, where compliance with environmental legislation forms a key component of membership negotiations.

Under the proposal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would attend EU summits without voting rights, while Kyiv would also receive representation within the European Commission and non-voting seats in the European Parliament during the accession process.

The initiative, first discussed by Merz with European leaders last month, was outlined in a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
“It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes,” Merz wrote.

“What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately,” he added.
The German proposal would also extend the EU’s mutual assistance clause to Ukraine and provide Kyiv access to selected areas of the bloc’s budget framework, deepening institutional ties as the country continues to battle Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine has accelerated its push for EU membership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, framing accession as central to its long-term economic recovery, political stability and security architecture.
Kyiv’s membership drive had faced persistent resistance from Hungary under former nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose government repeatedly delayed progress on accession negotiations.

His replacement by political rival Peter Magyar has raised expectations among EU officials that talks could regain momentum.

Despite that shift, Merz acknowledged that full accession remained politically and procedurally distant because EU enlargement requires unanimous approval among member states and ratification through national processes.

The proposal may encounter reservations both inside the EU and in Kyiv, where officials have expressed concern that interim arrangements could dilute or indefinitely postpone full membership ambitions.
Merz sought to address those concerns directly, insisting the initiative was not intended to replace eventual accession.

“It would not be a membership light,” he wrote, while urging EU leaders to open “all negotiation clusters” with Ukraine immediately.

Ukraine’s pursuit of deeper European integration has intensified as prospects for NATO membership remain uncertain following continued opposition from the United States to Kyiv joining the military alliance in the near term.

Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states concluded overnight talks on measures needed to enforce the agreement reached last year between Washington and Brussels.

The trade accord, negotiated in July 2025 between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, set tariffs on most European exports to the United States at 15 percent while requiring the EU to eliminate duties on many US imports.

Implementation had stalled for months amid political disagreements inside the bloc and concerns over Trump’s broader trade policies.Von der Leyen welcomed Wednesday’s breakthrough, saying the agreement would allow the EU to fulfill its obligations under the transatlantic trade framework.

“Together, we can ensure stable, predictable, balanced, and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade,” she said in a statement posted on social media.Trump had warned the EU it faced significantly higher tariffs if the agreement was not ratified by early July and had previously threatened to raise duties on European automobiles and trucks from 15 percent to 25 percent.

The dispute had intensified pressure on Brussels to secure stability in trade relations with Washington, its largest economic partner, with annual transatlantic trade valued at roughly 1.6 trillion euros ($1.9 trillion).

The final agreement includes safeguards allowing the European Commission to suspend favorable tariff arrangements if the United States violates the deal or targets EU businesses through discriminatory trade actions.

EU negotiators also secured provisions enabling Brussels to respond if surges in US imports threaten domestic European industries.However, lawmakers softened several earlier demands opposed by Washington, including provisions that would have required the United States to immediately remove tariffs above 15 percent on steel components before EU measures took effect.

The finalized text also removed a proposed “sunrise clause” that would have delayed implementation until Washington fully complied with all commitments.A separate “sunset clause” was extended until the end of 2029, postponing the need for renegotiation or renewal of the arrangement.

Bernd Lange, who led negotiations within parliament, said lawmakers had succeeded in securing safeguards protecting European interests.But Anna Cavazzini criticized the compromise, saying the agreement still placed the EU at a disadvantage despite helping stabilize trade tensions.

The accord comes after more than a year of transatlantic trade disputes triggered by Trump’s tariff policies on steel, aluminum, vehicles and industrial goods.

An EU spokesperson said the proposed meeting was being organized at the request of several member states seeking cooperation on deportation procedures for Afghan migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected or who are considered security risks under European law.

No date has been finalized for the talks, the spokesperson said, stressing that the meeting would not constitute formal diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government.

Western governments have largely avoided official engagement with the Taliban since the Islamist movement seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces and the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan administration.

Despite the lack of formal recognition, European officials have gradually expanded technical contacts with Taliban authorities on issues including migration, humanitarian assistance and airport operations.

The EU spokesperson said officials from the bloc had already traveled to Kabul in January for preliminary discussions and were now considering a follow-up technical meeting in Brussels with what the EU described as Afghanistan’s “de facto authorities.”

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum across Europe since the Taliban takeover, creating political pressure on European governments facing rising anti-immigration sentiment and strained asylum systems.

European countries have struggled to deport Afghan nationals because diplomatic relations with Kabul remain limited and there are few formal mechanisms for coordinating returns.

The spokesperson said Sweden was assisting in coordinating the planned discussions. Swedish authorities did not immediately comment on the initiative.

The move highlights the increasingly pragmatic approach adopted by some European governments toward the Taliban administration, despite continuing concerns over human rights restrictions, particularly those affecting women and girls in Afghanistan.

The proposal, raised by Putin over the weekend as he signaled openness to discussing postwar security arrangements in Europe, was swiftly dismissed by EU officials who questioned both Russia’s intentions and Schroeder’s neutrality because of his longstanding ties to the Kremlin and Russian state energy companies.
“We would not be very wise to allow Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf,” Kaja Kallas told reporters during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Kallas said Schroeder’s close relationship with Putin made him unsuitable for any mediating role, adding that Moscow had shown no evidence it was prepared to engage sincerely in peace or security negotiations linked to the war in Ukraine.

Germany’s Europe minister, Gunther Krichbaum, also rejected the suggestion, saying Schroeder could not be considered an “honest broker” because of his political and business connections to Russia.

Schroeder, who served as German chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has maintained close personal ties with Putin and previously held senior roles in Russian state-controlled energy firms, relationships that have drawn sustained criticism across Europe since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha similarly dismissed any role for Schroeder but said European governments could participate in negotiations complementary to ongoing U.S.-led diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

A source familiar with the discussions said Sybiha proposed that European officials help mediate a narrower agreement between Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on each other’s airports, describing the initiative as a more achievable objective than a comprehensive settlement to end the war.

The discussions reflect growing debate inside the EU over whether the bloc should eventually establish direct diplomatic channels with Moscow after more than four years of political isolation and sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion.

Antonio Costa said last week he had begun consultations with European leaders on how the bloc should organize itself for possible future talks with Russia when conditions become appropriate.

Several ministers, however, argued the EU should intensify economic and political pressure on Moscow before considering formal negotiations or appointing any envoy.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the immediate priority should be strengthening the bloc’s leverage against Russia rather than selecting mediators.

Austria’s foreign minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, said the EU should prepare to become more directly engaged in diplomacy with Moscow, while stressing that decisions on representation would be made by European governments, not Russia.