European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to use all available tools, including development aid, trade, diplomatic efforts, and visa policies, to expedite the return of illegal migrants to their home countries.
Following the meeting in Brussels on October 17, EU leaders called on the European Commission to “immediately” draft legislation to speed up the return of illegal migrants.
In the summit’s final statement, EU leaders emphasized the need for decisive action at all levels to facilitate, increase, and accelerate returns from the EU using all relevant policy tools, including diplomacy, development, trade, and visas.
Last year, the EU ordered 484,000 non-EU citizens to leave the bloc, but only 20% of them returned to their home countries, with the remaining 80% still residing in the EU.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the Commission is working to increase the number of returns and will soon introduce legislation to address the issue.
During the meeting, EU leaders also discussed the creation of “return centers” for migrants outside EU territory.
These centers would allow European countries to process the cases of migrants and asylum seekers without their physical presence in the EU. Under this plan, illegal migrants would be sent to camps or centers outside Europe to have their cases reviewed.
If these migrants are granted asylum, they will be allowed entry into Europe. However, if their asylum requests are rejected, they will be deported from the return centers back to their home countries.
Italy has sent illegal migrants to a return center in Albania, with the Dutch planning a similar one in Uganda. EU leaders like Olaf Scholz and Pedro Sánchez highlight migration’s necessity for Europe’s aging population and economic support.
While the EU recognizes the need for legal migration due to demographic challenges, it remains committed to addressing illegal migration through stricter enforcement and innovative return mechanisms, seeking a balance between economic needs and migration control.
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