Last missing piece from the Migration & Asylum Pact on returns!

The Renew Europe Group welcomes the Commission plans for a common approach to the return of third-country nationals staying illegally on EU territory while regretting (again) the lack of impact assessment from the side of the Commission.

Returns — or the lack thereof — have long been the missing link in Europe's asylum policy. The new Commission proposals highlight a willingness to tackle it together across the EU, harmonising definitions, simplifying procedures and implementing them more effectively and coherently. The text reinforces the obligations of returnees to cooperate, and clarifies conditions on the return of individuals posing security risks.

However, one of the main proposals of this directive is the return to a country with which there is an agreement or arrangement for return. Renew Europe will be cautious about such an agreement — migration is not a subject that can be easily outsourced. It is up to us to set standards. Many legal doubts and risks to fundamental rights arise with this concept. For instance, how are we going to monitor the situation of returnees in a third country?

The plans will have to be studied in detail, says Fabienne Keller (Renaissance, France):

"Finally there will be a regulation on returns, the missing piece from the Migration and Asylum Pact. We will negotiate to make sure we balance effectiveness of returns with the fundamental rights we need to safeguard across the procedure."