Amid high expectations, the European Commission presented a ‘New Common European System for Returns’ on 11 March, featuring a proposal for a Regulation that would repeal the 2008 Return Directive. Among other objectives, the reform aims to harmonise procedures and accelerate the return process of third-country nationals without the right to stay in the EU. Additionally, renewed focus is on incentivising voluntary return and systematising readmission cooperation with third countries. The proposal also introduces the legal possibility for establishing “return hubs”.

The European Policy Centre (EPC) and the Egmont Institute are organizing a public event “An outlook on the EU’s new approach on returns” to take stock of key questions related to the EU’s return framework.  

This hybrid Policy Dialogue will be divided into two panels, which will unpack the proposal and reflect more broadly on the EU’s new approach, placing equal attention on legal, political and practical implications.

Speakers :

• Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration (video statement)
• Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
• Ewa Kiewra, Justice and Home Affairs Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU
• Lena Düpont, Member of the European Parliament, European People’s Party
• Jasper van Berckel Smit, Executive Secretary of the Meijers Committee
• Mari Juritsch, EU Return Coordinator, DG HOME, European Commission
• Michele LeVoy, Director, Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
• Izabella Majcher, Independent Legal Expert
• Virginie Jacob, Senior Advisor, European Policy Centre (EPC)

If you are interested in joining our conversation “An outlook on the EU’s new approach on returns” on Thursday, 27 March, please register via the following link.

Please note that this is a hybrid event.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)