Policy brief

FAiR insights and recommendations for EU Member States The new Return Regulation aims to address the persistently low return rate in the EU which hovers around 25% (Eurostat - 2021-2026). It…

For many years, the success of return has been judged primarily by numbers. More returns meant success; fewer returns meant failure. This narrow metric no longer captures the structural realities…

Authors: Frown Rausis and Sandra Lavenex, University of Geneva This Policy Brief presents recommendations for the EU and EU+ states negotiating Intergovernmental Return Frameworks (IRFs) with non-European states. In recent…

Authors: Arjen Leerkes, Elina Jonitz & Isabella Yazici This Policy Brief presents policy recommendations for EU+ countries hosting significant numbers of irregular migrants to find sustainable and promising responses to…

Authors: Frowin Rausis & Sandra Lavenex This policy brief presents recommendations for the EU and EU+ states negotiating Intergovernmental Return Frameworks (IRFs) with non-European states. Negotiation processes on return are…

November 2025 - by Alexis McLean, ICMPD Monitoring is essential to ensuring that return procedures uphold Europe’s human rights commitments and remain accountable to public scrutiny. The FAiR Policy Brief…