The European Parliament and member states have reached a political agreement on the new European regulation for the return of irregular migrants “harraka,” which will replace the return directive issued in 2008.
The new text aims to increase the efficiency of implementing return decisions for migrants from outside the European Union who do not have the right to stay legally, and to address the high rates of non-compliance that have exceeded 80% in some cases, according to official data.
Among the key provisions of the agreement are the extension of administrative detention periods to facilitate deportation processes, the abolition of the automatic suspensive effect of appeals on the execution of return decisions, as well as the establishment of a unified “European Return Order” that allows for mutual recognition of the implementation of these decisions across all member states.
The agreement also stipulates the possibility of establishing return centers in third countries, and enhancing the use of EU tools in the areas of visas, trade, and development aid to pressure exporting countries to accept the return of their citizens.
François-Xavier Bellamy, a Member of the European Parliament from the European People’s Party (EPP) and the chief negotiator for the Parliament, stated: “The situation has persisted for too long, where return orders are routinely ignored. Four out of five people who receive a return decision do not actually leave. This is not a functioning system. Today, we put an end to this failure, and we affirm that if you do not have the right to stay in Europe, you will have to leave.”
For his part, Thomas Tobé, Vice-President of the EPP group and chief negotiator for the Parliament on the Migration and Asylum Pact, confirmed that the agreement represents a fulfillment of the European People’s Party’s promise to regain control over migration, completing the last pillar of the European Migration and Asylum Pact, providing member states with effective enforcement tools.
This agreement comes after years of intense discussions regarding the effectiveness of return policies in the EU, and is viewed as a crucial part of completing the Migration and Asylum Pact previously adopted.
The text will now be referred for final approval by the European Parliament and member states before it enters into force.
While proponents of stricter immigration policies welcomed this development, some human rights organizations expressed concern about the potential impacts on the rights of migrants and legal proceedings.
