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Living in an area of Justice, Freedom and
Security
European Commission Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Overview of EMN Study onRETURN
Stephen DAVIES, EMN Desk Officer, Immigration and Asylum unit, DG Justice, Freedom and Security
European Commission
ContentEuropean Migration Network
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Framework/Topics
EU Policy context
National Debates
Voluntary Return
Forced Return
Counselling
Concluding Remarkshttp://www.european-migration-network.org
European Commission
FrameworkEuropean Migration Network
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Within framework of EMN’s Work Programme, undertook this Research Study.
Aim of the study was to contribute to policy development by presenting an overview of the different approaches to Return in the MS.
Primarily for policy-makers, at national and EU-levels, plus relevant administrative bodies, specialists.
11 EMN NCPs (AT, BE, DE, EE, GR, IE, IT, LV, NL, SE, UK) participated, each producing comprehensive Country Study.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Topics addressed
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Current status of available data
Definitions used
Political & Legal Framework
Voluntary and Forced Return Actions
Provision of Assistance & Counselling
Bi- and Multi-lateral Co-operation
European Commission
European Migration Network
EU Policy context
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Council Directive 2001/40/EC (mutual recognition of decisions).
Transposed AT, BE, FIN, FR, DE, GR, IT, PT, NL, ES, SE, UK. Opted out DK, IE. EU-10 (& EU-2) upon Schengen Acquis.
Council Directive 2003/110/EC (assistance in removal by air).
Transposed AT, CZ, FIN, HU, LV, LT, PL, NL, SE. Partially BE, EE, not yet BG, CY, FR, DE, GR, IT, LU, MT, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES. Opted out DK, IE, UK.
European Commission
European Migration Network
EU Policy context
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Council Decision 2004/191/EC (compensation of financial imbalances from Directive 2001/40/EC).
Council Decision 2004/573/EC (on organisation of joint flights).
Proposed directive (COM2005)391final) on common return procedures for illegally resident third country nationals.
European Return Fund (2008-2013), budget €676M.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Re-admission Agreements
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Following Treaty of Amsterdam (May 1999), negotiation mandate conferred to Commission.
Concluded: Albania, Hong Kong, Macao, Russia (to be ratified), Sri Lanka, Ukraine (upon Council Decision)
Ongoing: Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, FYROM, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Moldova.
Yet to start: Algeria, China
European Commission
European Migration Network
Definitions
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Much discussion on understanding of (Assisted) Voluntary Return in particular.
In order to strive towards a degree of comparability, IOM definitions used for report:
Forced Return - the compulsory return of an individual to the country of origin, transit or third country, on the basis of an administrative or juridical act.
Voluntary Return - the assisted or independent return to the country of origin, transit or third country, based on the free will of the returnee.
European Commission
European Migration Network
National Debates
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Widespread criticism of Forced Return in respect to detention (BE, IT); removal procedures in individual cases (AT, DE, IE, NL); specific migrant groups (NL) and/or countries of return (UK).
Notable review of procedures was Vermeersch Commissions I & II (Belgium).
In The Netherlands, a Return Supervisory Committee was set-up following discussions in media and its House of Representatives.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Voluntary Return
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Regulated by legal acts in AT, BE, EE, NL, UK. Primarily undertaken by the IOM (not EE, LV) in
co-operation with national authorities (funding) and sometimes NGOs.
Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) preferred option: more dignified, much less expensive, more sustainable.
Example: AVR in UK in 2003/2004 were approx. 10-15% of Forced Return costs, costing in 2004/2005, £8.768.000 (€13M).
Evaluations of Voluntary Return actions undertaken in AT, NL, UK (+/- positive).
European Commission
European Migration Network
Assistance
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Assistance provided in terms of a financial incentive, travel documents/costs, reintegration assistance (EE, IE, IT, NL, UK).
Reintegration assistance in particular considered to contribute to sustainability (plus education opportunities in MS and CofR).
Not, however, considered as main motivation for return, instead facilitates.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Motives/Obstacles
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Motives:Poor economic and household conditionsImproved political situation in country of returnPersonal reasonsInsecurity in resident Member StateLength of asylum procedure
Obstacles:Lack of financial resourcesDifficulty in obtaining proper travel documentsBad conditions in country of originLength of time spent in the resident Member State
European Commission
European Migration Network
Forced Return
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Main steps: Return Decision; Removal Order; poss. Detention; Expulsion; Re-entry ban (although different terminology used).
BE, EE, IE, LV, NL, UK first offer the possibility for Voluntary Return.
Withdrawal/suspension occurs for humanitarian reasons; non-refoulement; lack of travel documents; poor health of returnee; absconding.
Difficulties in identification of returnee common (also costly and time consuming). Lack of co-operation with some countries of origin.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Counselling
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Mainly for Voluntary Return and primarily by IOM (also conduct information campaigns).
Other actors include Fedasil (BE), Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers/Migration Institute (NL); Citizenship and Migration Board (EE), plus NGOs (in AT, EE, IE, NL, UK).
As well as financial assistance, includes free advice and information on CofR, (legal) counselling.
Besides travel arrangements; potential prospects; reintegration assistance.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Concluding Remarks
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Return increasingly important component of comprehensive (national/EU) migration policy, also for Country of Return.
The differing definitions/understandings in MS, and lack of comprehensive data for all, makes direct comparisons difficult.
Forced Return (by state authorities) has legal basis in all MS, whilst for Voluntary Return (by IOM plus NGOs), this exists only in some.
Voluntary Return with (reintegration) assistance considered more humane, cost-effective and sustainable.
European Commission
European Migration Network
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
RESERVE
European Commission
European Migration Network
Responsible authorities
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security
Expulsion undertaken by, e.g. Immigration Service (BE), Citizenship and Migration Board (EE), Aliens Authority (EE), Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (LV), Migration Board (SE).
As well as the Border Guard and the National Police (private contractors in UK).
These authorities also take decision whether to use detain returnees (e.g. illegal border-crossing; violating immigration and residence procedures; unknown identity; threat to national security or public order; ensuring return actually occurs; from 'non-suspensive appeal’ country)
European Commission
European Migration Network
Synthesis Report - Topics
Living in an
area of Freedo
m, Justice
and Securit
y
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security