Under the new framework, migrants facing deportation will be required to cooperate with authorities, while member states will gain broader powers to enforce return orders.
Authorities may detain individuals deemed likely to abscond, refuse cooperation, or pose a security risk.
Detention can last up to 24 months, with an additional six-month extension possible in certain cases.
The legislation also allows alternatives to detention, including electronic monitoring, financial guarantees and residency requirements.
In a significant new measure, the rules permit the creation of “return hubs” in non-EU countries willing to host deported migrants, provided human rights standards and international legal obligations are respected. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from such arrangements.
National authorities will also be allowed to conduct investigative measures to facilitate returns, including searches of individuals, residences and personal belongings, subject to judicial or administrative authorisation.
Supporters say the reforms close long-standing gaps in the EU’s migration framework, while critics have raised concerns about detention periods and the outsourcing of returns to third countries.
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