The European Commission will present a new migration package this week on Wednesday 1 March or Thursday 2 March. This will depend on what agenda is decided, according to information from one of our sources on Monday 27 February. This package will contain an action plan on returns and recommendations for member states to speed up the implementation of decisions on returns.
In this field, the Commission is not expected to propose any legislative changes but will suggest a number of ways that member states can be supported when they speed up return of people residing illegally or whose requests for asylum have been rejected. According to the figures the Commission is expected to present, the decision has got worse when it comes to implementing decisions. Our source explained that according to Commission figures, 40% of decisions on returns in 2014 were carried out by member states, whereas this rate stood around 38% in 2015.
In an effort to speed up procedures, Commission recommendations are therefore expected to focus on measures such as harmonising decisions for refusing protection with decisions on returns and making them simultaneous. The Commission is also looking at making these measures imprescriptible or without any expiry date applying to them. It would also like to provide member states with criteria so that they are aware of whether they have to detain individuals subject to return decisions and who present a risk of absconding. These criteria focus, for example, on their degree of cooperation or whether they have “provided false information”, confirmed our source.
The recommendations will also focus on the countries of origin obliged to take in their nationals. The Commission will also present its 10th report this week on relocations and resettlement, as well as its second report on the new European Coast and Border Guard and another report on the EU-Turkey statement of 18 March.
On the issue of relocation, the Commission intends to deliver a “strong message” to all member states’ regarding their responsibilities and to warn them about possible measures, such as infringement procedures. According to our source, the Commission is expected to highlight possible areas of action so that member states meet their commitments (13,252 people out of 106,000 have been relocated according to the figures provided on 23 February).
With regard to Turkey, criteria for liberalising visas remain at the same level. Turkey still has to meet seven additional measures out of 72. The Commission is expected to restate that the declaration of 18 March is achieving results but they still need to speed up returns of illegal immigrations from Greece, which is still a weak point. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)