As Deutsche Welle notes, the adoption of the document was preceded by months of discussion. Quite strict rules were approved despite numerous protests from refugee rights organizations.
The law stipulates that if migration authorities refuse to legalize a migrant who has arrived in any EU country, he or she must leave the territory of the European Union on a "voluntary basis". In case of refusal, the law provides for forced extradition, which must entail a further ban on entry for five years.
Undocumented persons subject to deportation may be imprisoned for up to 18 months before deportation is carried out.
The draft European directive on extradition also provides that children of foreigners born in the European Union who are in Europe without legal grounds are also subject to extradition together with their parents.
For the agreement to enter into force, it must be approved by the European Parliament. Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate, whose country holds the EU presidency, expressed confidence in a positive decision by the European Parliament and said that this agreement is an important step in developing a common migration policy.