The European Union has cleared the way for the establishment of deportation centres outside the bloc, following a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and EU member states.
The deal was reached on Monday evening by representatives of the European Parliament and the governments of EU countries, according to Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Under the agreement, rejected asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their countries of origin could be transferred to "return hubs" outside the European Union.
The measure would apply in cases where a migrant's home country refuses to accept their return or where an EU member state does not maintain diplomatic relations with the country concerned.
The European Parliament's plenary and EU member states must still formally approve the agreement.
