EU Commission welcomes political agreement on new EU Return Regulation

The European Commission welcomed the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on a new Return Regulation, originally proposed in March 2025 and aiming to create a common EU system for returns of third-country nationals who have no legal right to remain in the European Union.

The new Regulation include:

• introduction of a directly applicable EU Regulation, including common procedures for return decisions and a European Return Order, reducing fragmentation among Member States.
• all return procedures must fully respect EU, international, and human rights standards.
• readmission becomes an integral part of the return process, including facilitated data-sharing with third countries to support returns.
• member States will be able to recognise and enforce return decisions issued by other Member States.
• forced return becomes mandatory in cases of non-cooperation, absconding, failure to leave voluntarily within the deadline, or security risks.
• authorities may require financial guarantees, regular reporting, or residence at a designated location.
• the Regulation allows agreements with third countries to host return hubs for individuals subject to return decisions, provided international human rights obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, are respected.
• the Regulation also promotes voluntary return and reintegration assistance.

The Regulation must still be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. It will enter into force the day after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, with some provisions subject to a 12-month implementation period.