Brussels, 29/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, on Thursday 29 September, asked eight member states - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands - to comply fully with EU rules on the return or removal of irregular migrants (Directive 2008/115/EC), according to a press release. These eight countries have so far have not informed the Commission of national measures implementing the 2008 “Return” Directive, the Commission goes on, even though member states were required to transpose the provisions by 24 December 2010.
Despite letters sent by the Commission on 27 January 2011, the eight above-mentioned member states mentioned “have still not informed the Commission of having adopted the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to entirely comply with the directive”, the Commission says. It, therefore, decided to move to the next stage in the infringement procedure and send them reasoned opinions, to which they must reply within two months.
The Return Directive provides for harmonised rules on the return, removal, detention and re-entry of certain migrants. It also provides for a number of rights for migrants, including the right to non-refoulement for any illegally staying person, where before this right was only guaranteed for asylum seekers, the Commission states.
By 15 September 2011, 19 EU member states or associated Schengen states - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, France, Romania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland and Norway - had informed the Commission that they had fully transposed the directive and four others - Belgium, Lithuania, Sweden and the Netherlands - that they had partially transposed it. This piece of legislation does not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland. (SP/transl.rt)