The European Commission moved forward in its plans to tackle illegal migration by proposing a new Common European System for Returns to help the bloc with a more cohesive instrument to deal with expelled illegal migrants, which may pave the way for creating return hubs in third countries.
The new framework will help the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which will enter into force on 1st July 2027. The Commission believes there is a need for a common system of return for migrants. Currently, each member state has its own system, and a migrant expelled by one country could easily go to another, where a new process to determine their status will have to start over.
With the new system, the Commission’s decision on migrants will have mutual recognition between member states, and each can enforce the decision to expel made by another state. In addition, clear rules on forced return will be set up, making it mandatory for anyone illegally staying in the EU or who flees to another member state and does not leave the EU by the given deadline.
“Today, only around 20% of those who have a return decision leave Europe. This number is by far too low. This is why we will put in place common rules for return decisions,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
As part of the push for raising the number, the new system will allow EU countries to have bilateral or EU-level agreements to set up centres to send expelled migrants like the one Italy set up with Albania. The third country responsible for these centres should respect international human rights standards. In addition, the new rules allow for longer detention in case of fear of absconding to another country, to a maximum of 24 months.
The European Parliament and Council will still have to approve the proposal in their next meetings.
