After having presented, at the end of January, a new ‘operational strategy’ to help Member States increase the return rates of people illegally present in the EU and unable to receive protection status (see EUROPE 13106/8), the Commission presented, on Tuesday 14 March in Strasbourg, a recommendation to encourage these same Member States to recognise more quickly among themselves the national return decisions taken, based in particular on the new Schengen Information System (SIS) which came into force on 7 March (see EUROPE 13136/7).
It also proposed for the first time a 5-year strategy for European ‘integrated border management’ based on a set of 15 principles.
“We are moving towards a common culture of migration management; this culture must bring together elements of efficiency; we cannot rely on ad hoc solutions”, said Commission Vice-President Margarítis Schinás.
At his sides, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, explained that while the number of voluntary returns carried out by Frontex increased in 2022, 90% of these returns were carried out on behalf of two Member States, and she called on other Member States to make use of the Agency’s services. On 15 March, nine Member States will use Frontex for a return flight to Bangladesh, she also announced.
The Commission recommendation presented on 14 March updates a similar recommendation from 2017. It calls on Member States to make use of the new possibilities of the SIS, which has created new alerts for return decisions issued at national level, becoming immediately applicable by another Member State through the mutual recognition system.
The Recommendation also encourages Member States to establish close cooperation between the authorities responsible for decisions ending legal residence and those responsible for return decisions. They are also invited to put in place, “without delay, a comprehensive IT system for managing return decisions”.
In a third step, Member States are again invited to promote voluntary return with new counselling structures for the migrants concerned.
The ‘Integrated Border Management’ strategy identifies 15 principles for national coastguard and border guard authorities and Frontex officers.
The priorities identified are border control with large-scale IT systems, improved cooperation with third countries and respect for fundamental rights.
The Search and Rescue component is one of the 15 pillars as “the need for coordination is a priority between flag and coastal states, as well as the need to develop best practices on timely and full information sharing”.
Member States are invited to integrate this multi-annual strategy at their level within 12 months.
Agreement between Frontex and Athens on returns
The new Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens, Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi and Minister of Citizens’ Protection, Panagiotis Theodorikakos agreed, on 14 March, on a plan to expand the agency’s support in the area of returns.
“As part of a dedicated action plan, Frontex will provide additional support to Greece in a number of return-related activities, including reinforced operational and technical support in voluntary and forced returns”, a statement said.
Frontex is assisting Greece in the framework of the joint operation Poseidon.
There are currently 518 standing corps officers and staff working in Greece, both on the mainland and on the Aegean islands, the statement added.
Links to documents: https://aeur.eu/f/5ru; https://aeur.eu/f/5rv Original version in French by (Solenn Paulic)