Commission releases proposal revising EU return policy

The European Commission launched on 2 March 2017 a renewed Action Plan on Return, together with a Recommendation to better ensure the effective implementation of the existing EU legislation on return.

The measures proposed in these documents complement and reinforce the actions presented in the Commission's first Action Plan on Return. Its need became visible following the conclusions of the informal EU summit held in February 2017.

The Return Directive entered into force in 2010. In September 2015, the Commission presented its first EU Action Plan on Return which comprised measures to improve the efficiency of the return system. The European Council concluded in October 2016 that there was a need for national administrative processes to be reinforced on this regard, while in February 2017 it pointed out the need for a critical analysis of the EU's return policy.

This package on return policy was put forward on the same day as the Commission released its implementation reports relating to the European Agenda on Migration and the existing Migration Partnership Frameworks.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/351, 02.03.17: Questions & Answers: Making return and readmission procedures more efficient http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-351_en.htm

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/425, 02.03.17: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos on the migration package adopted by the College ahead of the March European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-425_en.htm

EUObserver, 02.03.17: EU wants rejected migrants, including minors, locked up https://euobserver.com/migration/137088

Politico, 02.03.17: Lock up migrants to stop them absconding, says Commission http://www.politico.eu/article/lock-up-migrants-to-stop-them-absconding-says-commission/

Politico, 27.03.17: EU worried migrants will shop around for best return deal http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-worried-migrants-will-shop-around-for-best-voluntary-return-deal-payment/

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