N-VA welcomes new return regulation: “A missing piece of Europe’s asylum policy”

The European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council have reached an agreement on the new European Return Regulation. The new rules will make it possible to return third-country nationals who are staying illegally in the EU more quickly and effectively. “In my view, this is the most important migration agreement Europe has reached in the past decade,” says MEP Assita Kanko.

The problem has persisted for years: only around 20% of third-country nationals (citizens of non-EU countries) who receive an order to leave EU territory actually return. These figures come from the European Commission itself. To finally address this issue and make return decisions enforceable, the European Parliament earlier this year approved a new European return framework. The Commission and the Council have now also endorsed the proposal.

Addressing security risks

Under the new rules, third-country nationals who are subject to a return decision will be required to cooperate with the relevant authorities in leaving EU territory.

Mandatory returns to a third country may take place on the basis of agreements between Member States, the European Union and third countries. A key innovation is the introduction of a European Return Order, allowing one Member State to enforce return decisions issued by another.

The regulation also introduces stricter measures for individuals who pose a security risk. Migrants who refuse to cooperate with return procedures or who are considered likely to abscond may be detained for up to two years. Such detention may also take place in new return centres established outside the European Union.

Supporting the fight against crime

The proposal is not only a major step forward in tackling illegal migration to Europe; it should also support law enforcement authorities in their daily fight against crime.

“In major cities, particularly Brussels, police officers encounter young people every day who are staying in the country illegally and are therefore easy targets for criminal networks. They are often recruited into activities such as drug trafficking,” says Assita Kanko. “Because they have no legal status and often no fixed address, our police services are frequently left fighting a losing battle. Thanks to this new legislation, EU Member States will have greater scope to impose measures that prevent undocumented migrants from going underground or falling victim to exploitation.”

A crucial missing piece

Assita Kanko emphasises that the compromise text is primarily focused on operational effectiveness. In practice, this will result in faster enforcement of return decisions, stricter cooperation requirements for those ordered to leave, and fewer procedural obstacles that currently delay removals.

“Any migration system that fails to return 80% of rejected asylum seekers lacks credibility. That is why I actively contributed to this legislation. Thanks to this agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, we will soon be able to effectively enforce the decisions taken by our immigration authorities. We owe that to our citizens. I genuinely believe that Europe’s security and asylum policy will finally have a proper missing piece in place,” concludes Assita Kanko.

The agreement will now be voted on in the LIBE Committee before being submitted to a plenary vote in the European Parliament.