11 May 2026
Being Rejected is not a Crime
On 26 March 2026, the European Parliament approved the proposed EU Return Regulation, thereby adopting its position for the negotiations with the Council and the Commission. As the Parliament's and the Council's positions differ only marginally, its adoption appears likely. The current draft considerably expands detention and introduces far-reaching derogations, particularly for third-country nationals considered to pose security risks. This ICE-ification of the EU's migration policy and the de facto criminalisation of people on the move pose a threat to fundamental rights within the EU. Continue reading >>
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06 February 2026
A Draconian Return System
Unless the European Parliament puts up a fight to eliminate or amend the worst parts of the currently circulating draft regulation on a “common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union”, which looks unlikely, the EU may soon adopt a new approach. This draft regulation shows how far the EU has shifted towards positions of the far right, and how little it is interested in human rights and pragmatic solutions for rejected asylum seekers and other non-EU migrants. Continue reading >>
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17 November 2025
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Last week, the LIBE of the European Parliament debated a Draft Report and a series of amendments to the Commission’s Proposal for a Return Regulation. The Proposal seeks to increase the EU’s return rate, which has not exceeded 20% in recent years. In 2024, out of 453,380 individuals ordered to leave the EU, only 110,385 returned to their countries of origin. The Proposal legalises the possibility of sending migrants to return hubs located in third countries outside of the EU. This entrenches their marginalisation, whilst eroding migrants’ human rights protections. Continue reading >>
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