EU plans strict rules: deportations should be faster and easier!

In a remarkable step, the EU Commission, led by migration commissioner Magnus Brunner, plans to reform the return directive that has existed since 2008. The goal of the new law is clear: the faster and more efficient deportation of people without a right of residence in the EU. According to Brunner, only 20 percent of the persons against whom a return decision was issued are actually flown out of the EU - a state that is considered "not acceptable". In a press conference, he emphasized the need for a reform that is supposed to create clear and uniform rules across Europe, while EU Vice President Henna Virkkuns also promised to create "order in our house".

A central element of the proposal is the introduction of a European return order, which is intended to enable the deportation of an EU state to automatically apply in other member countries. So if you receive a deportation decision in an EU country, you cannot switch to another EU country to apply for a new asylum application. With regard to the impending consequences for rejected asylum seekers, the proposal provides for strict measures: Anyone who refuses to participate in the return risk reducing social benefits and even confiscation of travel documents. "We create order in our house," emphasized Brunner, to underline the importance of this reform, which will affect both the future of cooperation between the Member States and the treatment of migrants in the EU.

stricter rules for security risks

The new regulations that should apply to people who are classified as a security risk are particularly alarming. These should be able to be taken into deportation faster in the future, and the possibility is given to extend the detention period beyond the current 24 months. Brunner announced that a concept for safe third countries should be presented by June 2025, since the definition of these countries is currently inconsistent and unclear, which only increases the practical challenges in the event of deportation. Critics, such as Amnesty International, see this project a "new low" in dealing with migrant people, especially in view of the special "return hubs" that can be created in third countries in order to accommodate people under certain conditions.

Although the plans appear promising, the new law still stands for coordination in the EU Parliament and must withstand the opinion of the various political factions. The approval within the EU was already evident through positive feedback on the part of the ÖVP, while other parties such as the Greens and the FPÖ pointed out human rights concerns. Another step in the right direction is essential to tackle illegal migration in Europe, says Brunner and his colleagues, who hope for a quick agreement to reform the applicable regulations.