Tuesday's proposal for a new return directive in the EU is one of the most significant from the new commission and comes after several member states expressed concern that so few deported individuals actually leave the EU.
It is not sustainable if people who do not have the right exploit the system. Only one in five who have been ordered to leave actually do so. It is not acceptable. Our societies cannot and will not tolerate it, says Home Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner at a press conference in Strasbourg.
Satisfied Minister
The proposal includes, among other things, the introduction of a European deportation order, clear and coordinated rules on how deportations should be carried out and what rights and obligations the deported have. For example, individuals who pose a security risk should be detected earlier and be subject to stricter rules, including forced deportations.
Above all, the proposal also opens up for the introduction of so-called "return hubs". The idea is that EU countries individually or in groups can conclude agreements with countries outside the EU to send people who are to be deported, but for various reasons cannot be sent back to their home countries.
Migrations Minister Johan Forssell (M) is satisfied and now hopes for some form of pilot project.
We cannot work as we have done before. The important thing is that we go from words to action and simply test this proposal, which I believe is an important complement to getting returns to work, says Forssell to TT over the phone.
"Pure Populism"
The EU Commission emphasizes that international human rights rules will apply in the "hubs" and that no minors or unaccompanied children will be sent there.
Criticism is still strong from various human rights groups.
"A new low point", notes Amnesty International in a press release.
"Pure and simple populism to appease the extreme right. All previous attempts to implement something similar have failed and led to horrific abuses", fumes EU Parliament member Alice Bah Kuhnke (MP) via SMS.
The EU Commission presented its proposal for a renewal of its return directive from 2008 on Tuesday. The proposal means that a previous proposal from 2018, which EU countries and the EU Parliament could not agree on, is being withdrawn.
The proposal also includes an opening for centers in countries outside the EU where individuals who have not been granted the right to stay in the EU can be taken, pending deportation to their home countries. The centers – called return hubs in EU language – are only intended for individuals who have already been denied asylum or deported for other reasons.
