The European Commission has welcomed a political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on a new Regulation establishing a Common
European System for Returns, aimed at overhauling and streamlining how irregular migrants are returned across the European Union.
Originally proposed by the Commission in March 2025, the new framework is a flagship initiative under the current Commission’s political guidelines and the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy. It forms a central pillar of the EU’s broader migration policy and complements the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Faster, more uniform return procedures across the EU
The new rules are designed to make return procedures swifter, simpler and more effective across Member States, while ensuring full respect for fundamental rights.
A key feature of the reform is the creation of a truly unified European system in the form of a Regulation, introducing common procedures for issuing return decisions and establishing a European Return Order. This move is intended to address long-standing fragmentation in national return systems.
The agreement also introduces mutual recognition of return decisions, allowing Member States to recognise and directly enforce return decisions issued elsewhere in the EU.
Stronger enforcement and incentives for voluntary return
The Regulation tightens rules on forced returns, making them mandatory in specific cases, including when individuals pose a security risk, fail to cooperate with authorities, abscond to another Member State, or do not leave the EU voluntarily within the required deadline.
At the same time, the framework seeks to promote voluntary return by expanding reintegration assistance and support measures.
To reduce absconding, Member States will be able to impose additional measures such as financial guarantees, regular reporting obligations, or residence requirements at designated locations.
The text also provides for accelerated procedures for individuals assessed as posing a security risk, with the aim of ensuring faster identification and removal.
Possibility of return hubs in third countries
For the first time, the Regulation introduces the option to establish return hubs in third countries for individuals with no legal right to remain in the EU and who are subject to a return decision.
Such arrangements would only be possible through agreements with third countries that comply with international human rights standards, including the principle of non-refoulement.
Safeguards and human rights protections
EU institutions emphasise that all measures under the new system must fully respect fundamental rights and international human rights obligations throughout the return process.
Next steps
The agreement now requires formal adoption by both the European Parliament and the Council. Once approved and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Regulation will enter into force and replace the current Return Directive dating from 2008.
Background: low return rates despite recent improvement
The Commission noted that although the EU return rate rose to 28% in 2025 — the highest level in a decade — overall effectiveness remains insufficient. The new system is intended to improve this performance by enabling faster and more consistent procedures for returning individuals without a legal right to stay in the EU.
Alongside the legislative reform, the Commission is continuing efforts with Member States and third countries to improve cooperation on readmission. This includes using migration diplomacy tools such as visa policy, financing instruments and trade incentives to support return and readmission agreements.