European Commissioner for Internal Relations and Migration Magnus Brunner has said proposed new legislation on the deportation of unsuccessful asylum applicants is a "gamechanger".
He said this proposal to reform the "returns" directive is about taking responsibility and "a true European approach".
"It is ambitious but also in my view balanced. Return decisions will translate into returns, actually having returns at the end of the day. And also strengthen the credibility of our migration policy."
He said the new regulation is about having a better and more coherent and efficient return system with one set of rules that is applied uniformly "wherever you are."
He added that it is about creating a European system which is now the only thing that makes sense.
Mr Brunner said it is the essentially the "missing piece" of the migration policy pact that was put in place last year.
He said something has to be done to safeguard "our ability to grant asylum to those in need... more than this to safeguard a sort of public trust in an open society".
"That is why we are proposing a set of modern procedures to empower member states to return unsuccessful asylum applicants."
He said without readmission there would not be any returns, adding that they are ensuring returns decisions are systematically followed up with a readmission request.
Mr Brunner explained that return hubs which can be set up are completely different to the Rwanda model and Italian-Albanian model and safeguards are in place.
He said they are creating the legal framework for return hubs to allow countries to explore new solutions.
Mr Brunner said it is up to member states to decide on return hubs and member states can also work together.
He said return hubs will be limited to people with an "enforceable return decision" and these agreements have to include exclusion of unaccompanied minors.
The proposed legislation will also focus on preventing migrant smugglers, Mr Brunner said.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said their priority will be to support voluntary returns as "that is the main priority still" and said that all of the agreements will respect human rights.
Mr Brunner said there is more to be done with agreements with countries and added "we have to work on that."
"Returns only work if we have the internal regulation, and then of course the next step is the readmission part and working together with third countries."
He said this legislation will hopefully be in place as quickly as possible.
"I do hope the Parliament and Council will adopt this legislation as soon as possible."
