Authors: Frowin Rausis & Sandra Lavenex
This paper examines how European states and the EU use extra-European return diplomacy to manage the return of people without valid residence permits. Combining case studies, data, and theory, it looks at both the legal design of return frameworks and the internal government structures that shape negotiations. Findings show wide variation across countries, from minimal coordination to fully integrated approaches, and highlight that successful return diplomacy relies less on formal agreements than on long-term, trust-based relationships with partner countries.