19 of the 27 EU member states signed a joint letter urging the opening of return centres.

Omissions

• The letter was signed by interior ministers of 19 member states and sent to the European Commission in December 2025, i.e. well before the 2026-07-08 session, so the MEP could have known it.
• The letter specifically called on the Commission to develop a funding framework for 'innovative solutions' (return hubs/return centres in non-EU countries) rather than directly ordering the 'opening' of such centres; this is a minor framing nuance, not a factual error.
• All corroborating sources are secondary (news outlets citing the letter); the full text of the letter itself was not located during verification.

Sources

• SecondaryInfoMigrantsNineteen EU member states have urged the European Commission to set out a clear funding framework for 'innovative solutions' on migration, including return hubs outside the bloc.
• SecondaryThe Local19 European countries call on EU to fund migrant 'return hubs' — signed letter sent to the Commission; interior ministers from the 27-member bloc greenlighted a package of measures on December 8 that include the opening of return hubs.
• SecondaryPolitis (Cyprus)Nineteen of the European Union's 27 leaders have called for the creation of return centres outside the bloc, arguing that Europe must move more decisively on returns.
• SecondaryInfoMigrantsNineteen EU countries have endorsed plans to create offshore migrant centers in third countries where rejected asylum seekers could be sent.