{"id":58361,"date":"2026-06-17T17:34:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T16:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=58361"},"modified":"2026-06-17T17:34:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T16:34:04","slug":"new-eu-system-for-the-return-of-illegal-third-country-nationals-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/17\/new-eu-system-for-the-return-of-illegal-third-country-nationals-2\/","title":{"rendered":"New EU system for the return of illegal third-country nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Third-country nationals with a return decision will have to cooperate with the authorities and leave EU territory.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Possibility of detention to prevent escape<\/li>\n<li>Based on an agreement with a third country, removal to non-EU territory, including to &#8220;return centres&#8221;, will be possible.<\/li>\n<li>Stricter rules for people who pose a security risk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On Wednesday, MEPs approved changes to the EU&#8217;s policy on the return of third-country nationals illegally staying in the EU.<\/p>\n<p>The new rules seek to simplify and speed up procedures, in full respect of fundamental rights and international law, including the principle of non-refoulement and the prohibition of collective expulsions, while preventing abuses and unauthorised movements within the EU. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/news\/en\/press-room\/20260518IPR43408\/deal-on-new-eu-rules-on-migrant-returns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">informal agreement reached on 1 June with the Council<\/a>\u00a0was approved by the plenary, with 418 votes in favour, 218 against and 30 abstentions.<\/p>\n<p>According to the legislation, a return decision issued by the competent national authorities to a non-EU citizen illegally staying in a Member State will entail the obligation to leave the relevant EU country immediately or within a given time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Obligation to cooperate and detention<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Non-EU nationals subject to a return decision will be required to cooperate with the authorities. In order to prepare their return, they may be detained, based on an individual assessment, for example if they are not cooperating, present a risk of absconding or pose a security risk. Detention will have to be ordered by an administrative or judicial authority, and may last up to 24 months. An extension of up to six months in total will be possible if circumstances change, new information emerges, or cooperation with a third country improves. A new period of detention may be applied if a third-country national moves to another Member State. Member States will also be able to require regular reporting or an obligation for the person to reside in a designated place. Alternatives to detention, such as a financial guarantee or electronic monitoring, may also be imposed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Investigative measures<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>National authorities may carry out specific investigative actions to prepare or ensure effective return. These may include searches of third-country nationals, of residences or other relevant premises, subject to judicial or administrative authorisation, as well as the search and seizure of personal effects and electronic devices. All measures must respect fundamental rights and remain subject to safeguards and remedies in accordance with Union and national law.<\/p>\n<p>Agreements with countries outside the EU to accept returnees<\/p>\n<p>It will be possible to transfer migrants with a return decision, excluding unaccompanied minors, to &#8220;return centres&#8221; on the territory of a country that agrees to accept them, on the basis of an agreement concluded by an EU member state. These agreements can only be concluded with third countries that respect human rights, international law and the principle of non-refoulement. National authorities will have to inform the Commission and the other Member States before an agreement enters into force.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Next steps<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Following Parliament&#8217;s approval, the text needs to be formally adopted by the Council and published in the Official Journal before it can enter into force. Some provisions, including on return centres, the age assessment of minors and the external dimension of returns, will apply immediately. Other provisions requiring preparatory steps will enter into force 12 months after the legislation enters into force.<\/p>\n<p>Source: EU Commission<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_58361\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"58361\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Third-country nationals with a return decision will have to cooperate with the authorities and leave EU territory. Possibility of detention to prevent escape Based on an agreement with a third country, removal to non-EU territory, including to &#8220;return centres&#8221;, will be possible. Stricter rules for people who pose a security risk On Wednesday, MEPs approved [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_58361\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"58361\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Third-country nationals with a return decision will have to cooperate with the authorities and leave EU territory. Possibility of detention to prevent escape Based on an agreement with a third country, removal to non-EU territory, including to &#8220;return centres&#8221;, will be possible. Stricter rules for people who pose a security risk On Wednesday, MEPs approved&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58361"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58367,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58361\/revisions\/58367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}