A new directive under consideration in the EU is expected to introduce several key principles, including establishing clear rights and responsibilities for migrants who have exhausted legal avenues to remain in the EU. It also aims to clarify the guidelines for deporting individuals, whether back to their home country or to a third country where they have previously spent significant time.
One proposal being discussed involves limiting the freedom of movement for migrants slated for deportation. This could include requiring them to regularly “check in” at migrant centers, allowing authorities to better monitor those considered at risk of disappearing, according to a diplomatic source.
However, such measures are legally contentious, as demonstrated by Italy’s controversial arrangement to transfer migrants to detention centers in non-EU Albania. The policy, modeled after Rwanda-style migration deals, has faced significant backlash and been hampered by legal challenges, including rulings from courts deeming it illegal.
Since the adoption of the EU Return Directive in 2008, there has been increasing pressure for faster and more effective deportation processes. This shift comes amid Europe’s broader rightward turn on migration policy in recent years, both at national and EU levels. Far-right parties have gained significant traction on anti-immigration platforms, while right-wing forces have become increasingly influential in shaping decisions in Brussels.
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